Tiny piece of plastic lost in cam cover....

[frarmar]

So, my dumbass was pulling my oil fill tube so I can mount my breather directly to the cover and apparently when removing the tube I broke a tab off inside the cover. I'm almost positive it is a pretty damn small tab. Probably the size of a pellet for a pellet gun.

Question is, should I pull the cam cover to look for it?? Or say fuck it?


Yes, yes I am.




MODS: Not exactly tech, I know. Move if you must.

 

[05stroker]

If it broke off the oil fill tube then is is most likely in the front cover or oil pan . I would pour a few extra qts of oil in and drain . Then strain the oil and see if its there . Its plastic so it should flow out and not sit in the pan . Just a thought.

 

[bluebloodbundy]

get it out , extra oil and drain is a great idea to try. exhaust your cheap,free,quick efforts first and then start pulling the timing cover but get it out.

 

[frarmar]

Thanks for the idea. I'll give that a try.

If it broke off the oil fill tube then is is most likely in the front cover or oil pan . I would pour a few extra qts of oil in and drain . Then strain the oil and see if its there . Its plastic so it should flow out and not sit in the pan . Just a thought.

 

[irishpwr46]

. it may clog up your oil channels

 

[05stroker]

The oil fill tube is over the front cover wich goes to the oil pan . There are no oil channels in this area. If you dont find it draining the oil then take a air hose and blow into the filler tube to see if its resting on the timming chain or something .

 

[07 procharger]

run a couple quarts of oil down there...drain the pan, it will come out with the oil, if it doesint then it got hung up on the chain somewhere, hopefully it gets chewed up, but im guessing it will come out with a oil change

 

[frarmar]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I guess I'll just try to see if it will come out by adding and draining oil. My only question is should I maybe pull the cam cover first, in case it's sitting up high where I could maybe reach it, instead of risking washing it down lower by adding oil and draining it??.... I'm probably overthinking this.

 

[07 procharger]

its worth a shot for the 10 minutes it takes to remove it. Just have the rtv silacone ready and a razor blade to redo the 2 areas that require a dab where the head meets the timing chain cover.

 

[wallace]

@ frarmar... i had the exact samething happen to me a couple yrs. back, i was getting ready to paint my valve covers. broke a small piece off the oil filler neck connect tabs... NEVER even though about going after a piece that small, go after it if you want, but not because u think it may "clog" ur oil channels... most likely i will find its way to the oil pan or as someone stated. "be chewed-up by the timing chain".... either way FORD built u a good enough car that a small piece of plastic will not grenade ur engine... i only speak from experience on this one, i didnt even bother to change the oil afterwards, not until scheduled maint. RELAX!! ENJOY!!

 

[frarmar]

Yeah I was a "little" paranoid when I first did it, but I've calmed down some now. It just pisses me off when I do stupid shit like this. It does make me feel better that your car didn't spontaneously combust after it happened to you. lol.

I guess I will have to forget about it, cause I didn't find it under the cam cover or while draining my oil...

Screw it! Done worrying about it.

Thanks for the replies.

@ frarmar... i had the exact samething happen to me a couple yrs. back, i was getting ready to paint my valve covers. broke a small piece off the oil filler neck connect tabs... NEVER even though about going after a piece that small, go after it if you want, but not because u think it may "clog" ur oil channels... most likely i will find its way to the oil pan or as someone stated. "be chewed-up by the timing chain".... either way FORD built u a good enough car that a small piece of plastic will not grenade ur engine... i only speak from experience on this one, i didnt even bother to change the oil afterwards, not until scheduled maint. RELAX!! ENJOY!!

 

[2k05gt]

I did the same thing, Ran the engine for a while, drained the oil and it was there.

 

[frarmar]

Cool. I'll try that too. Thanks.

Now, I gotta find some clean containers, no way I'm wasting the 30 f'n dollars worth of fresh mobil 1. lol

I did the same thing, Ran the engine for a while, drained the oil and it was there.

 

[redstangs9308gt]

Id say get ya blow gun and see if you can blow it down to the oil pan then drain your oil

 

[one eyed willy]

plastic floats,fill the engine with water and it should float to the top.....



i dont think pulling the valve cover will help you, from where the oil filler cap is at,its a straight drop down to the chain,then the oil pan. you could use a flashlight and look down there.i would just drain the oil and if it doesnt come out,keep pouring oil in there as it drains,im sure it will come out.

 

[frarmar]

plastic floats,fill the engine with water and it should float to the top.....



i dont think pulling the valve cover will help you, from where the oil filler cap is at,its a straight drop down to the chain,then the oil pan. you could use a flashlight and look down there.i would just drain the oil and if it doesnt come out,keep pouring oil in there as it drains,im sure it will come out.

Should I use tap water, distilled or de-ionized water?

You're right, pulling the valve cover didn't help. I'm going to let it run for awhile, then drain it. If it's not there..... Fuck it.

 

[SqueezeMe]

DAM... Mine broke but I caught it on the valve cover and gorilla glued it back on LOL...