Why???? The oil dipstick in my 05 Camry finally broke. The plastic end snapped off. I replaced it with a metal one. For the first time since 08 when we got the car I'm confident I know my oil level. With the plastic one it was dip, look, and wipe, repeated 3 times then make a hopefully reasonably competent guess. How much could Toyota be saving??? Charge $5.00 more for the car and give us a decent dipstick. I don't get it.
Toyota plastic dipsticks
- Thread starter bovine1
- Start date
All of those problems are also present with metal ones. Someone here just posted a pic of their trans dipstick that broke off, it's metal.
They can all break, and they can be super hard to read, depending on the vehicle. Also, the metal housing can rust and break off.
They can all break, and they can be super hard to read, depending on the vehicle. Also, the metal housing can rust and break off.
Why don't they just make the plastic dipstick one piece? 
OEM's are always chasing little places to save a little. Nothing new.
Was it just the handle that was plastic, or the bit that dips into oil?
I've always checked mine cold, just pull it out and look, no towel required. If it's super clean oil, just have to get the light just right to see it.
Was it just the handle that was plastic, or the bit that dips into oil?
I've always checked mine cold, just pull it out and look, no towel required. If it's super clean oil, just have to get the light just right to see it.
Dipstick, no dipstick manufacturers will never win.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
It's annoying but when a frequently used part on a 20 YO car breaks it's not really surprising. Toyota is probably surprised those plastic dipsticks last 20 years.
Are we seriously complaining that something lasted for only 20 years?
It had a plastic tip and it broke right where it joined the metal. So does my 2017 Corolla. I can't read it either. I personally have never not been able to read a metal one in autos, tractors, semis ever. I will concede this could be just me but I don't like the plastic ones. To each his own I guess. I realize any of them can break but I'm glad this one finally broke.
I am glad it broke. I don't like that I had to engage my imagination to get a reading.
On a Toyota? Yes.
Ah. If you hated it that bad why didn’t you just replace it before? Not trying to be combative, serious question.
20 yrs seems like a good run to me. I wouldn’t feel like it owed me anything.
Because I always convinced myself it's these lighter oils we run now. I realized when I got this metal one today and I can read it fine that it was the dipsticks. I'm going to get a metal one for our Corolla. I am old maybe this is an old geezer thing.
I don't either I just wish I could have read it.
I know what you mean. The Hyundai has a plastic orange tip and it’s hard to read unless you catch the light just right especially when the oil is fresh.
I got a few more years than that out of the plastic dipstick on my ECHO.
I told my wife recently if we have to get another car it'll be 2018 or before model. Our 2017 Corolla I struggle to get the radio where I want it. Major technophobe here.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2025
The BMW 2018-2023 M550ix has both the dipstick and the Idrive method. I think the V8s are the last hold outs with dipsticks at BMW.
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