Dropped something into m20

[lennon]

I was adjusting the valves on an m20b25 today. They were as loose as i thought and i happily corrected that. I always go back and double-check the gap and make sure i tightened the nuts. On my first check, cyl. 1 exhaust, i dropped the gauge i was using and it went right down the oil passage there in the corner. I pulled the pan, not there, tried flushing it out but it didnt appear. I also tried a magnet.

Any ideas? Where could it have gone? Now that im sitting here im thinking of trying a pipe cleaner or something.

edit- if it matters, it was just a single .010 guage about 1.5 inches long, stainless steel.

[blueapplesoda]

if u pulled the pan, try using a light to look into the hole from the opposite side the light is on if you didnt already try that, you may have to rotate the crank to see. i hate when shit like this happens...whole motor has to come apart for stupid shit.

find a plastic/wooden dowel or something that fits pretty good into the hole and try poking around

[DmcL]

what about one of those flexible grabber things..

[lennon]

if u pulled the pan, try using a light to look into the hole from the opposite side the light is on if you didnt already try that, you may have to rotate the crank to see. i hate when shit like this happens...whole motor has to come apart for stupid shit.

find a plastic/wooden dowel or something that fits pretty good into the hole and try poking around

yea i couldnt see it. today the plan is to look some more and try poking around with something. im thinking its stuck somewhere, even just on the passage wall, because of its thin flat lightweight shape. it seems like it would stick to oil easily. its not even my car, im not sure if that makes this worse or better haha. thanks guys, more input is appreciated

[Conrad311]

try a small magnet on a string or a good sized lenth of wire that has some stiffness but still flexes pretty easily..

[JTapper]

try a small magnet on a string or a good sized lenth of wire that has some stiffness but still flexes pretty easily..

Stainless Steel + Magnets = Fail.

[Conrad311]

not true, depends on the elements in the steel, mine are magnetic, it just depends on wether there are nickel alloys in it, just see if the others are magnetic before wasting time..

[752dbl02]

hmm. It could have made it to into the oil filter depending on how wide it is.

I dropped one of the nuts for the eccentric adjuster down the oil drain, and my engine hasn't blown up yet. Also, a mechanic i used to work with dropped an adjuster for the eccentrics down one of the oil drains in an m20 and got it back the next oil change, and the car was completely fine.

Hope your that lucky.

[lennon]

Nuts are dense and would sink to the bottom of the pan and stay there, I dont think this feeler gauge would. Its very light. It definitely would not make it into the pump, theres a screen. I'm worried about it floating/banging around on the crank and shit, even though I dont think it would do much damage. I havent had a chance to mess with the car this weekend, nor have I started it. I've been too busy ripping a friends e36 apart and putting it together. Thanks for all the advice. Im just gonna pull the pan. Ive been wanting to replace some stuff up front anyways.