Stuck oil dipstick removed, now won't insert fully

Guys, need some advice. My 2006 4runner Limited, 8Cyl had a stuck oil dipstick. My son has the car and apparently had not checked the oil in a while. About 225K mileage. Regular serviced by Toyota.
The dipstick top moved but stuck somewhere inside. I put some oil around it and let it sit for a week. Just pulled it out. Ok fine.
However it will not seat fully. Stops about 3" short which would mean the freeze was down inside the sump.
Any suggestions. I ran some oil down the tube and worked the tube and worked it up and down. no luck. I don't want to force it either.

 

Try pulling it up slightly and turning the blade 1/4 to 1/2 a turn when it gets to the stuck point and see if it will go all the way then.

 

Thanks. I tried that again but no luck. Still won't drop final three inches.

 

Maybe it was stuck due to a problem with the dipstick tube, such as a pinch or something. In a situation like that, extracting would be difficult but more doable than inserting. Maybe you have something more narrow than the dipstick but just as sturdy and flexible that you could test with. A thin electrical fish tape, for example. If that goes in but the dipstick doesn’t, probably something with the tube.

 

Being an 18 year-old vehicle, check the bottom of the dipstick tube where it enters the pan. Make sure there isn't a ball of rust there.

 

I like the idea of the fish tape but my electrical fish tape is too wide. I am starting to wonder as my son said he had the oil changed within last couple of months. I believe him but did they actually change the oil. Perhaps they saw the stick frozen and just poured in appropriate level without checking it. Although you would think the repair shop would have said something.
In any event, it sounds like you are suggesting dropping the pan which given my other duties I will need the dealership to do it.

 

You could buy an inexpensive thin tape if you wanted.

 

You shouldn't have to drop the pan, just look down where the tube joins/enters the pan and see if it looks unusual/rusted badly, etc., you can also remove just the tube and inspect it.

 

I dont use the dipstick. JB weld the hole?

 

This is rather easy to do on the V8. The dipstick tube is bolted to the engine on the passenger side, and the only thing holding it into the pan is an o-ring otherwise. Just need to remove the wheel and splash guards and you can see and access everything you need to on that side. Lots of room.

 

OK, I will look at this on the weekend. Thanks

 

Just plug it with a foam earplug like they do in aviation maintenance...

 

Well I found the problem. Without pulling the passenger tire and mud flap, I used one of my extension mirrors and flashlight. The tube was yanked out of the hole when I pulled the dipstick. The final three inches of blockage is the dipstick hitting the block instead of the hole. I will need to get it towed. I can't drive 10 miles to repair shop with the oil female port open.

 

If you can plug the hole you should be able to drive it with no issues, no reason to have to pay to get it towed, or can't you just reinsert the tube into the hole?

 

I'm glad you figured it out before anything worse happened.

 

I was able to place the tube back into the hole but can't seat the o-ring.
Temp fix should be good enough to drive to dealer about 10 miles without losing too much oil.