Dropped a piece of plastic into engine

[bala]

While removing the ribbed middle oil filler tube, i broke the tip of the tube that connects to the engine. I saw one piece fall on the engine and thought the other fell out as well but it was inside the tube. So, when i tried to remove the engine side it dropped into the engine. Tried a shop vac, long wire with gummy tape and no luck. Used a scope with camera and couldn't find it either. Oil is currently drained and the sump plate is off. I tried turning the engine but it didn't fall off. How do I go about locating it and removing it? It's a one inch by 1/2 inch triangular piece.

[logray]

Oh no! Well you dropped it right above the top near roughly the cylinder 1/4 area of the crankshaft/bearing carrier.

Chances are it might be stuck around that area somewhere. Problem is, to access that area requires pretty much complete engine tear down.

More than likely if you run the engine the piece will get pulverized and flattened and then caught by the filter or deposited in the sump, HOWEVER, I would think you might also run the risk of potentially blocking an important oil passageway before/after it gets pulverized AND/OR once it's freed and made it's way to the sump blocking a portion of the oil pickup tube, etc.

PIeces much smaller than that do turn up from time to time from other parts in the engine.

I would get some second opinions on what to do next.

[bala]

Got it out. Blew air from a shopvac and got it to go down towarss the oil sump. Thanks for the advice.

[logray]

Whew! Good!

[1schoir]

:thumbup:

[phillipj]

Awesome..Great news... :jump:

[bala]

Here it is sticking it's ugly head out after a frustrating few days of chasing..

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzNj15TtG1g_VlpzTEpOcDNRRU82cXFFZnRFX2lfZw

[logray]

Oh geez, right below a cylinder, yes that is a tight space and a big chunk of plastic.

You did the right thing getting it out!