The dipstick broke inside the tube.

["mantrobax <ownerof@xxxx>" <ownerof@xxxx>]

Ol' Murphy and his law came to visit me the other day.
Oh evil, evil world...hehe.

I was messing about with the engine, refilling motoroil, checking the 
level as I filled the thirsty beast of an engine up. All of a sudden, 
while I was trying to put the dipstick back into the tube (without 
excsesive violence) I could feel something snap. When I pulled the 
dipstick out, the lower 3-5 centimeters of the dipstick was missing. 
(cracked at the notch marking "lowest level of oil") 
I had my hopes up and was wishing that the piece was still stuck in 
the tube..., but no. It had fallen into the oilpan.

I have talked to some people and there should be no danger in 
starting the engine. But of course you don't want a piece of metal 
flying around in there.
So I'll have to empty the "oil-sump" (dunno the word in english, 
having the mother-tounge of the swedish-chef, hope you know that I'm 
talking about), trickle the oil and use a magnet to see if I can find 
it. Apparently the plug doesn't come with a magnet as standard in 
this engine for those who wondered. 
Of course I'll also have to change the oil pan gasket while I'm down 
there.

The probable reason for the dipstick breaking must be that the tube 
more or less looks like the letter "S" in 3D. Strange, I can't 
imagine that's how it's supposed to be. 

Has this happened to anyone else?

Anyway, I thought I'd warn you all for this plainly ludicrous mishap.

So, check your the tube, and maybe replace the dipstick since the 
metal could be fatigued. Thats my own layman diagnostic and remedy.
PJGrady has got the dipstick. (I'm sure you can find it at other 
places to)

Cruise well and take care.

Viktor Tilander #2949 Stockholm, Sweden