I dropped the dipstick O ring in the oil pan!!
 

the O ring on the dipstick tube dropped INTO the oil pan.
tried "fishing" it out - no luck
I will try draining the oil through the drain hole and HOPE it gets flushed out.

If I cant get it - do I have to drop the oil pan or can it just sit on the bottom forever?

THANKS

You can try draining the oil and hope that it comes out with the oil, but if it doesn't just leave it in the pan. To drop the pan is a lot of work. You need to take off both axles since the right axle runs through the oil pan and the front diff is attached on the left side.

I think the dipstick tube o-ring is too big to come out through the drain hole. Like Upallnight says, don't worry too much about it.

If it is close to the drain hole you can grab it with a pick or something. Since it is rubber it should squeeze through the hole.

Yes, maybe a piece of wire and a bit of luck/skill ! ;)

THANK YOU for your responses

No luck.
Yes, its too big to fit through but was hoping it would end up right near the drain hole with the rush of the drain - it didn't.
I dragged a copper wire with a hook along the bottom hoping to snag it. (the bottom didnt feel completely flat).
I fished through the dipstick tube hole - nope
I went so far as to set up my shop vacuum thinking I could suck it out of the dipstick tube hole, but didn't have any tubing that would fit through the hole and adapt to my vacuum.

Obviously I fear it will get sucked up with the oil pump and cause a blockage. Is there a screen on the end of the pump intake?

put it all back together went for a short drive and no "oil" light.
Again, THANKS for the response.

Yes , no way it's going to get sucked into the oil pump. Just forget about it and work on figuring out your trim code and getting your seat heater fixed. ;)

1+,

Don't worry about it, the O-ring sits there until you replace the oil pan gasket, at that time, you should be able to fish it out.

This is why during dipstick housing installation, I always insert the O-ring into the housing first, then insert the whole thing.

Started my car this am and an awful sound - like ice in the blender.
first thought was I left a tool or wires fell into the fan.
by the time I lifted the hood it stopped.

Car ran fine, sounds fine -

Is the oil filter AFTER the pump? Could have the o- ring got sucked in and shredded in the timing chain??

OR - I did just change the timing chain tensioner spring because of a much less "chatter" sound I was hearing on initial start up on cold days. Maybe tighter spring misaligned the chain?

THANKS!

Never mind, sorry - still in panic mode....

It was a cut tie wrap on the coolant sensor wire to the coolant hose that I cut and didn't remove, it got pulled into the fan and yanked off the coolant sensor.