So my brother’s 2004 Chevy Silverado 3500 6.0l with 62,000 had the engine oil dipstick tube completely rust off behind the manifold and snap off, all the while dropping rusty chunks down the tube into the oil pan, GM -1. If the dipstick is rusty, bad sign, you better look further.
:purextc: <----Did this for an hour trying to remove the dipstick tube before I came across the succesful method that popped the tube out, since I later learned its a bit of a press fit.
About 1" from the base of the tube above the block I clamped vise grips on the tube which flattened it. Then from underneath, with the starter unbolted and pushed aside, I stuck a pry bar against the visegrips and tapped on the pry bar about 10 times and it began to work out, which was a great feeling. I then finished up with a magnet pulling a teaspoon of rust out of the oil pan through the drain hole, needless to say I changed the oil.
The new tube and dipstick have been revised, so buy both ($35 for both). Now it points forward towards the oil fill cap instead of to the side
I think the tube and dipstick are the same on 4800, 5300, and 6000 Vortecs