As the title says dropped a 1 inch piece of small diameter tubing into my radiator on my Bronco (posted here since more frequenters). It came off the end of my anti-freeze tester - good news is I have the coolant system flushed and anti-freeze proper.

I haven't tried to fish it out yet. Think I should concern myself with it? I figure absolute worse case the water pump shreds it to thins or it melts right? Or could something really bad happen like it could stop up something crucial??

Best part is the bronco is at the end of the driveway so I have to start it to move it to even get somewhere to buy one of those flexible grabber things.- the truck has not been started or moved since I just dropped that tube in there on accident this morning.

 

Dropped something in Radiator | SHO Forum

found this on google. They seem to think fine if I leave it in. I am going to go buy that grabber and see if I can't fish it out without undoing all the anti-freeze and distilled water I just put in there.

 

If i were u i wouldnt want it clogging up a coolant passageway in the engine. It would be smart to get it out than to risk problems later. If you dont see it floating and you didnt start the vehicle, i would take the radiator out and flip it upside down to see if it will dislodge it

 

I agree. My neighbor will be pissed - I texted him before I drove over his yard to get my daily out of the driveway (since parked in front of Bronco and could not drive through my yard due to a tree). Ran up to home depot. They didn't have the $5 cheap grabber tool so they discounted the $9 one with the LED for me to $5 and on my first dunk and grab try I pulled the tube from the rad no issues. - Thankfully I was really not looking forward to pulling the lower rad house and redoing all the anti-freeze and DI water I had just got done putting in there.

 

There she is. Not near as much of a PITA as I thought it could turn into.

 

Good job. You lucked out

 

Rather be lucky than good sometimes. - I would have pulled rad hose if it came to it.

Still waiting on my neighbor to get home. His house is for sale and already under contract so hoping he doesn't mind the all-terrian tread marks in his yard. Grass looks fine and already texted him will fix any broken sprinkler heads (which I doubt I broke any but who knows).

Better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I did help the dude hang a couple ceiling fans and a door the other day so hopefully he keeps that in mind!