pv355

I already realize I am a special kind of idiot for being so careless.
Last night I was changing out the plastic oil tube and ended up dropping a screw into the crankcase.
I ordered a flexible claw/magnate tools and an endoscopic camera to try and fish the screw out. For those familiar with the engine, how screwed am I? And what are my alternatives if I cant fish it out?

ChicagoSpeed996

I hope you can fish it out and you don't have to worry about going further. Otherwise you will be going to TDC, locking the cams and pulling the cam cover. Though I have not done this so others the wiser may want to chime in.

LonestarPorsche

subscribed.

and dont beat yourself up, it happens.

Skwerl

Yikes, I got that pit in the stomach feeling just reading that. Here's hoping for an easy solution with the magnet.

pv355

I am trying to imagine the crank case in my head. The screw couldnt have gone that far, right?

rbennett

I dropped a nut into my 930 trans when it was out of the car and was replacing the nose seal on it.

I used a Rare-Earth Magnet bolted onto a flexible pole and got it right out. I tried the usual magnets on a stick but they
were not powerful enough. Rare Earth Magnets are about 20 time stronger than normal ones and you only need to get the magnet say a couple of inches from the screw you are fishing out.

captainbaker

Not the end of the world. You should have no problem fishing it out with the tools ordered.

Devil Boy

Hopefully the screw is perched near the top right where you can see it. Looking at engine diagrams, it could have landed on top of the crank or on a piston connecting rod. If it fell down between the counterweights, I'm not sure if it would have access to fall all the way to the oil pan or if it will be stuck somewhere under the crank. Either way, be patient and good hunting.

German888

Not sure if it could have fallen all the way through to the pan but if so then you could drain the oil , drop the pan and check for it there...

OKB

drop your pants, I meant pans

gasongasoff

Can you feed one of those flexible USB cameras in to look for it?

atc5

yea, this stuff happens

i dropped a bolt into a turbo on my subaru. 3 hour diversion to remove the turbo to turn it upside down and shake the bolt out.

Good luck!

pv355

Is this how a surgeon feels. I think I see it but can't try again til this weekend.

German888

Open that pic in "paint" and draw an arrow at what you think is the bolt. I'm not seeing anything that resembles a bolt...

captainbaker

In the mean time, try taking your shop vac, an oil funnel and some flexible tubing. I think you know where im going with this. Attach the funnel to the end of the shop vac with some duct tape, then attach the flexible tubing. Go probing.