Well I was trying to replace the dip stick funnel and the thing snapped off at the base. The mechanic told me that it would come off by releasing the clips up top and then pulling it upwards.

Well it released but not before leaving a ring of plastic at the base. I can't get it to come up with my hand and it's next to impossible to get pliers down there. I can hear it move up and down so there is some play there but I just can't get it to come off.

Anyone got a trick or advice as to how to get that remnant of that plastic tube off? I'm worried that if I attack that thing with a screw driver to split it that some plastic will get into the oil.

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

I snapped the dipstick off on my old Bronco, and ended up putting Super Glue on the eraser end of an unsharpened pencil to get it out. Back yard? perhaps.... but it could help ya?

 

Nice trick dude. If you can use Super Glue to fix something, I'm there.

What I have is imagine a plastic ring on the end of a tube that won't come off and the thing is I can't seem to get pliers down to grab the ring. There just isn't enough room with the exhaust manifold there and a coolant pipe as well that's in the way.

I can get my hand underneath the manifold to the side of the pipe with the plastic ring but I have very little grip or power with my hand on the side of it like that. I'd rather be pulling from above but it's just too narrow there.

Perhaps I should super glue my hand to the plastic and just go manic. You never know?

 

You talking about the intake manifold FYI. I would take the throttle body out. You'll have pretty easy access that way. Or you could unbolt the coolant tank and kind of swing it out of the way. Goodluck

 

Ahh sorry, misread your first post.

LOL I dunno man, that might be a bit too much

 

At least I got the manifold bit right.

Well I had to go pick someone up so I taped up the hole to prevent anything from going in or I guess coming out. Fired up the car and my Check Engine Light which had been on went out. 2 funny.

Later I went in to get that damn piece of plastic off. I balled up some gaffer tape and placed it in the hole to prevent any plastic bits from falling down the hole. I removed the rubber intake hose so I could get my hand in there. Next I took a pair of pliers and spun the outer piece of plastic which separated itself quite easily from the inner ring. Glad I had the tape blocking the hole.

The outer ring then crumbled and I removed it. Next I used a chopstick and pulled the inner ring out. It actually slid out easily and in one piece. I then pulled the ball of tape out and no plastic had fallen in the hole.

Of course I can't guarantee that some plastic didn't fall down the hole from the previous owner because there were bits of plastic missing from the top of the funnel where the dip stick seals with the funnel.

The new funnel seats nicely and it is amazing how much softer this plastic is compared to the older one. Oh and the Check Engine Light has stayed off with the new funnel on.

On to the next....