Stuart -- Thank you for your reply.  I would suspect failure of dipstick is
more due to metal fatigue than any oil problem.  In the two plus years I
have had the van, it has gotten an oil/filter change with Castrol 20W-50
every three months.\\

John
----- Original Message -----
From: Stuart <stuart@cobaltgroup.com>
To: John Lauterbach <jhlauterbach@EMAIL.MSN.COM>; Vanagon list
<vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 2:46 PM
Subject: Re: Broken dipstick '84 1.9L

> Do you listen to Car Talk on NPR?  You should!
>
> Change the oil and fill with the correct amount.  Then get your rod and
> make a temporary dip stick.  Or, you can just add a half quart every 200
> miles until the new stick comes.
>
> If you know how long ago you added a half quart, just go from that
> benchmark and wait for the stick to arrive.
>
> You must have a serious case of oil leprosy for the end of the dipstick
> to fall off.
>
> Stuart