This UK parts guide helps you choose the correct replacement oil dipstick or guide tube before you order. We stock both parts, and they are not interchangeable. Match the OE number on the old part and the engine code. A chassis name such as C-Class or Golf is not enough, and the wrong stick can show a false oil level.

Dipstick vs guide tube

A dipstick and a guide tube are different parts. The dipstick is the marked stick you withdraw to read the engine oil level. The guide tube is the housing the stick slides into. Ordering one does not supply the other. A new stick cannot seat properly in a cracked or missing tube, and a new tube will not correct a bent stick or worn level marks.

Part	What it is	Listing examples
Oil dipstick	Marked stick used to read the oil level	48378; A6510102372
Guide tube	Housing the stick slides into	038103663

How to read the OE number

The number to search is the OE number on the old part, read together with the engine code. The same badge can cover more than one engine, and those engines do not always share a dipstick.

1. Withdraw the dipstick and look for a stamped or moulded number on the handle, blade, or clip.
2. On a guide tube, check the flange or the clip where the tube meets the engine.
3. Note the engine code from the handbook, the engine cover, or the vehicle data plate. Do not stop at the model name.
4. Search the oil dipstick category with that number, then confirm the listing names your engine.

If the digits are faint, photograph the whole OE label in good light and copy them exactly, the same way our headlight ballast part number guide describes reading a label.

Mercedes oil dipstick examples

A Mercedes oil dipstick for a C-Class has to be chosen from the old part number and the engine, not from the C-Class name on its own. Two dipsticks already in the catalogue show why.

• Dipstick 48378 - Listed for Mercedes E-Class, C-Class and SLK.
• Dipstick A6510102372 - Listed for Mercedes C-Class, E-Class, GLK, SLK, SLC 250 CDI, 200 CDI and 220 CDI.

These are listing examples, not a full Mercedes range. Neither number is claimed to fit every Mercedes, or every C-Class. A different engine in the same body can need a different stick. Use 48378 or A6510102372 only when that number is on your old part, or when the listing names your engine code.

VW Golf and Audi guide tube

An oil dipstick guide tube for a VW Golf is the housing, not the marked stick. Guide tube 038103663 is listed for Audi A3, A4 and A6 1.9 TDI, and for VW Bora and Golf Mk4.

Confirm a Golf Mk4 and the 1.9 TDI before treating 038103663 as the match. Later Golf generations and other engines are outside that listing. This tube is not claimed to fit every VW or every Audi. If you need the stick rather than the housing, order a dipstick listing instead.

How to tell if the oil dipstick is the right length

A wrong dipstick can give a false oil level. If the stick is the wrong length, the marks sit in the wrong place, so the sump can look fuller or emptier than it is. Do not add or drain oil from a reading taken with a stick that does not match the engine.

• Compare overall length, handle shape, and the position of the level marks with the old dipstick if you still have it.
• The replacement must slide fully home in the guide tube. Stop if the handle stands proud or the stick will not go down.
• Check the level on flat ground, using the engine procedure in the handbook. That is often after a short run, then a wait, so oil can drain back before you read the marks.

What to send if you are unsure

If the number is worn, or two listings look similar, send us the details below before you order.

• A photo of the old dipstick or guide tube, including any stamped or moulded OE number.
• The engine code, from the handbook, engine cover, or vehicle data plate.
• Chassis and year only as extra context. They do not replace the OE number and engine code.

FAQ

Is a Mercedes oil dipstick the same for every C-Class?

No. C-Class covers more than one engine. Dipstick 48378 is listed for Mercedes E-Class, C-Class and SLK. Dipstick A6510102372 is listed for Mercedes C-Class, E-Class, GLK, SLK, SLC 250 CDI, 200 CDI and 220 CDI. Match the OE number and the engine code.

What is an oil dipstick guide tube on a VW Golf?

The guide tube is the housing the stick slides into. Guide tube 038103663 is listed for VW Bora and Golf Mk4, and for Audi A3, A4 and A6 1.9 TDI. It is not the dipstick, and it is not listed for every Golf.

How do I tell if an oil dipstick is the right length?

Compare overall length, handle, and level marks with the old stick, and confirm the new stick seats fully in the guide tube. Then check the oil level on flat ground using the procedure in the handbook.

Can the wrong dipstick show the wrong oil level?

Yes. A wrong dipstick can give a false oil level. Follow the handbook: often after a short run, then a wait, with the car on flat ground.

What should I send if I am unsure which part to order?

Send a photo of the old part, showing any OE number, and the engine code. The chassis name on its own is not enough.

Do you sell the dipstick and the guide tube as the same part?

No. A dipstick and a guide tube are different parts. Read the listing title so you order the stick or the tube, not both by mistake.

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