Its just the tip of the stick, the reader piece, about an inch long. So are you saying the bottom of the tube is so close to the bottom of the pan that it wont drop down into the pan? If it drops into the pan are there baffles that it will get trapped in? How far is it from the oil drain plug? Any chance it will come out with an oil change? Estimate is $500 from the dealer to drop the pan. I dont particulary want to do this job.