Maybe the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.....

[Oldmactech]

Trying to position my cylinder head to go back on and I used two hard plastic “spudgers” as alignment tools instead of wooden dowels in the block spacer. In the process of lowering the head the rear of it swung a tiny bit and knocked the “spudger” loose. I grabbed the spudger and stuck it in the cylinder bolt hole from above and in the process of finding the spacer let go of the spudger and apparently it fell into the oil passage hole next to the bolt hole. Tried for a few minutes but it’s probably (hopefully) in the oil pan by now.

How bad am I screwed?



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[andrewwynn]

The plastic parts from the timing chain can spend a year in the oil pan without causing any harm. If your car has the oil level sensor on the oil pan remove that and use a mirror or inspection camera to find out.


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[Oldmactech]

Looking around for takeparts to see where the oil passages go or in what direction they flow. If it just goes in the pan, not too worried. If it’s sitting on the crank, or some moving part, worried.

Need a pinpoint flashlight also.


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[andrewwynn]

How big is the hole? My inspection Vanessa like camera is like 8mm diameter


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[Oldmactech]

Slightly larger than the headbolt hole. And it started raining again so I’m going to wait to check.

If you look at an m54 block, there is a slightly larger hole just next to the bolt hole with the spacer. The box shaped holes are water jacket. Round one is oil passage I assume. Not sure if oil comes up through it or down through it.




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[X5only]

Originally Posted by Oldmactech

Looking around for takeparts to see where the oil passages go or in what direction they flow. If it just goes in the pan, not too worried. If it’s sitting on the crank, or some moving part, worried.

Need a pinpoint flashlight also.


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It will get pulverized if it didn't drop into the pan. Hard plastic pieces have fallen into the engine while installing the valve cover - broken off pieces of the eccentric shaft sensor ears, red plastic at the inside bottom of valve cover, etc. Recall that the moving engine parts are made of metal and move fast and with a lot of force. If you're too worried, you may do an oil change after running for a while. I would only be worried if it were a metal piece.

[Oldmactech]

Hope you are right.....thanks.


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[andrewwynn]

I think the concern would be for an oil passage to get blocked and interfere with lubrication


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[Oldmactech]

I had to buy a cheap endoscope and after “fiddling” with it for awhile a got a good look in the oil passage and the damn thing was standing straight up blocking the passage-not good. It’s plastic with a tapered end so I debated putting super glue on a tool tip and trying to get enough stick to get it up but decided to try getting a bit of fuel hose to trap the end enough. Sure enough after 2-3 tries I get up enough to snatch it out. Whew! That would not have been good.

$22 endoscope worked pretty good.


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[andrewwynn]

I use a dental pick and a lighter to retrieve such: heat the pick, press into the plastic, count to ten for the plastic to cool and the part should be fused.