Oops - now what do I do?
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From: Pilot Hill
Oops - now what do I do?
Getting ready to install the intake manifold on my '97 4.2L V6, I was using a double-edge carpet cutter blade to scrape off the last remaining gasket material from the block. When, needless to say much to my dismay, I dropped the blade and watched it slide into the valley, under the balance bar & finally under the camshaft. I can't see the blade, but I know it's in there. It's about 1" X 2" & slightly heavier than a razor blade.
I've tried to retrieve it with a magnet. I've drained the oil. I can play with the magnet some more, and try to see inside the pan. I've thought of blowing compressed air or pouring oil down into the valley to flush the blade down to the pan if it's not there already.
Where might the blade be? If I drop the pan, will I be able to get to it? Dare I even consider leaving it 'down in the valley?'
Thank you in advance for your responses.
I've tried to retrieve it with a magnet. I've drained the oil. I can play with the magnet some more, and try to see inside the pan. I've thought of blowing compressed air or pouring oil down into the valley to flush the blade down to the pan if it's not there already.
Where might the blade be? If I drop the pan, will I be able to get to it? Dare I even consider leaving it 'down in the valley?'
Thank you in advance for your responses.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2011
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Getting ready to install the intake manifold on my '97 4.2L V6, I was using a double-edge carpet cutter blade to scrape off the last remaining gasket material from the block. When, needless to say much to my dismay, I dropped the blade and watched it slide into the valley, under the balance bar & finally under the camshaft. I can't see the blade, but I know it's in there. It's about 1" X 2" & slightly heavier than a razor blade.
I've tried to retrieve it with a magnet. I've drained the oil. I can play with the magnet some more, and try to see inside the pan. I've thought of blowing compressed air or pouring oil down into the valley to flush the blade down to the pan if it's not there already.
Where might the blade be? If I drop the pan, will I be able to get to it? Dare I even consider leaving it 'down in the valley?'
Thank you in advance for your responses.
Welcome to the forum
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From: Pilot Hill
My plan at this point
Thanks for asking. My son has a friend who consulted with his professional Ford mechanic friend who says I need to get it out. It could block oil flow & destroy the motor (he did say, "it's your call." He also says that I will be able to get to it by dropping the pan. So, within the next week after it warms up just a little around here, I plan to drop the pan. I'll let you know how it goes.
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i dont know if this will be of any help...BUT..i believe harbor freight had some little cameras/cameras in a tube etc made to look in cylinders and ?? whatever else. If you had that and a very small magnet (so you wont have such a strong pull to everything) you might have a better chance.------I dont own or ever used one of those cameras i just always wanted one. I know this might be a weird answer but its kinda a weird problem.
Always best to stuff a rag into to stuff when youre working on anything like this...im not kicking you when youre down just an fyi to people out there.
Always best to stuff a rag into to stuff when youre working on anything like this...im not kicking you when youre down just an fyi to people out there.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2013
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Yep, the camera is usually called a bore scope. They are very handy tools to have for many things! I saw a few weeks ago they had one at O'reillys. I think I saw the price tag under $100.
You do need to find it and get it out of there. If it fell to the bottom of the pan you will be fine, it will just sit down there and not damage anything. BUT if it didn't make it down into the pan, it could be hung up somewhere and might block oil flow.
You do need to find it and get it out of there. If it fell to the bottom of the pan you will be fine, it will just sit down there and not damage anything. BUT if it didn't make it down into the pan, it could be hung up somewhere and might block oil flow.
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From: Pilot Hill
Got it!
So, I dropped the oil pan today, threaded my flexible magnetic retriever into it, and pulled out the blade on the first try. I only had about 1-2 inches between the top of the pan & the engine block, and I couldn't see anything. The blade was in the forward, shallow part of the pan. The whole thing could have been much worse, I could have had to raise the engine to remove the pan. I was so happy I jumped up & down for about five minutes. Thank you for your ideas & encouragement. It really helped to have your support with this frustrating situation.
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