VW Oil Dipstick - Genuine VW 038115611B

Product Information

An engine oil dipstick is a simple tool used to measure the oil level in an engine, and a metering stick to dip into the oil sump. It is a long, narrow metal or plastic rod that fits into a tube that leads directly to the engine’s oil sump or oil pan. At the end of the dipstick is a marked section, indicating the minimum and maximum oil levels. Many manufacturers include the oil volume distance from min to max in your owner's manual, and it will vary from vehicle to vehicle.

There are three common reasons why you may want to replace a dipstick. Leaky o-rings can cause oil weeping and dripping, causing a mess. The indicator section at the bottom can become obscured, scratched, or damaged resulting in a false reading. Finally, because of the conditions inside the engine bay, the dipstick handle can become brittle and break.

• Oil Leaks: The engine oil dipstick effectively plugs the oil sump from the outside world. If the o-rings or seals are old, flat, or missing, the dipstick tube will leak oil. Leaky o-rings can also cause potential ingress of outside grit or debris which you do not want in your engine.
• Broken dipstick handle: Heat cycling, exposure to chemicals, and age will degrade plastic-handled dipsticks, causing them to break.
• Hard to read indicator: Depending on the manufacturer, the indicator section or measurement area at the bottom of the dipstick can become stained, cracked, or otherwise hard to read. If you can’t easily and quickly identify the oil level from the dipstick, then it should be replaced to avoid a potential failure later on.

About Genuine VW Audi

The Volkswagen Group, also known as “VAG”, consists of Volkswagen, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, Porsche, Ducati, MAN, Scania, SEAT, and Skoda. The original parts used by VAG to build your car are available as replacement parts under the “Genuine VAG” brand. Manufactured under the direction of VAG, expect excellent quality and a premium price since these parts are available exclusively through the VAG Dealership network.

You may not realize this, but the parts that make up your VAG are not necessarily manufactured by VAG. No cause for concern, as VAG designs the part, hires a manufacturer, and ensures its quality to you. In fact, many of these manufacturers have been making parts for VAG for decades. In our industry these manufacturers are called OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers), and these are often brands you recognize, including Lemforder, ZF, Sachs, Bosch, Valeo, Zimmermann, Siemens VDO, Corteco, and more. Don’t be surprised to open that Genuine VAG parts box and find an OEM branded part inside, simply with the addition of a VAG logo.

Be sure to keep an eye out for OE tags on our product pages to quickly identify parts coming direct from OE manufacturers. That extra bit of insight could save you some serious money while shopping! Refer to our OE Academy for further information regarding the OE/OEM tags throughout the site.