Somewhere between the turbo and the EGR cooler.

I dropped a bolt somewhere under/behind the turbo on passenger side. I've been fishing with a magnet for a while now and can't find it. Is it safe to leave in that area? Or is there something back there that moves and is going to hang up on it. I can get a replacement bolt. Just can't find the lost one.

 

It should be pretty inert ...... for now.

However, if the bolt or any other item resides on the valve cover side of the intake manifold, with the flat surface design of many motors today you run the risk that any removal of the intake manifold could drop the item in an intake port. If you forget about that, don’t inform a mechanic, or new owner isn’t aware it would be catastrophic.

So you could leave it for now .......

 

Thank you. That's what I was hoping to hear.

 

A borescope would help to locate the stray bolt substantially more than fishing blindly with a magnet. Peace of mind is KNOWING it's not stuck there, than it is NOT KNOWING where on the engine it's sitting.

 

Agreed. It's on my list.

 

You might also try hitting the area with 90 psi air. May dislodge it.

 

Maybe try searching with an inspection mirror.

 

Could be on top of the transmission..I've had things end up there

 

Yeah, I snooped around some more today and no joy. I have a super busy weekend so might be next week before I can start the search/rescue mission again. Thanks for all the tips. If I find it, I will be sure to update.

 

I've been through this quite a few times (not with a 6.0...). I have a flexible wand with a magnet at the tip. What happens unfortunately is you can hook on to the bolt but on the way up it passes by a bigger piece of steel and the magnet slaps that and drops the bolt...like 500 times in a row.

 

I don't think you dropped the bolt into oblivion. You just dropped it into
The Valley of Death. Had you been working on the HPOP with the cover of
then that would of been oblivion. Check over on the frame just incase it bounced
around as it fell.

I found a socket I lost once upon a time working on a 1972 Dodge. I found
the silly thing when I pulled the engine. It was sitting on the starter in a little
nook like spot. It would of taken a good bounce to get it to fall out.

Your bigest plus on this is you did not have the engine open when it fell.
Compressed air would also be my next try too.

 

"I don't think you dropped the bolt into oblivion. You just dropped it into
The Valley of Death. Had you been working on the HPOP with the cover of
then that would of been oblivion."

I hear you on that one! I was nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs when I changed my STC fitting. That truly is oblivion.

I use my inspection mirror to find errant nuts/bolts, then fish them out with a magnet or a claw. If I don't see it, it can rest in peace

 

That’s what I was thinking too!

If a bolt goes down in there....

 

Working around that HPOP cover is like brain surgery, 100% attention with no distractions, one slip up and your week is ruined.


Bolts drop to the craziest places, as long as there are no open cavities you are fine. Personally I would search for it but I am meticulous when it comes to my vehicles, little things like dropped bolts aggravate me.

 

I definitely realize that it could have been much worse. I didn't have the engine opened up. Glad it was just 'The Valley of Death'. I could not believe how this bolt bounced and clinked it's way to where it did. I watched it (seemed like slow motion...as it seemed to take forever). I said 'noooo noooo nooo'. Then it just disappeared.
But I did drive 400 miles with no issues so I know it is ok wherever it is. I will get back to hunting it down asap. Its been a busy few days so I have not done too much 'truck related stuff' since then.