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Loose Piece of Metal in Lower Oil Pan

15K views 18 replies 9 participants last post by  Stevebogotti 
#1 ·
So while changing the oil drain plug (I have a universal drain plug like this) the tip of the drain plug snapped off of the plug and is now stuck somewhere in my lower oil pan. Now I wonder if it would be alright for me to leave it there with no harm to the engine, or should I spend a few more hours trying to fish it out?
 
#9 ·
Ya, that's the answer I was hoping not to hear, well, hopefully I can figure out a better way to get it out other than an allen wrench, it's not like I'm going anywhere for the next couple of days since I have to wait for the new drain plug to come in.
 
#8 ·
Hey SteveO, You should not have a problem leaving that in there. (It will eventually makes its way out eventually when you do oil changes etc...)

Here are reasons why it shouldn't matter...

1. your oil pick up tube has a metal screen attached to it so it can't pick up large pieces of debris
2. very unlikely that the broken off piece will cover enough of the screen to prevent oil from being picked up (but still keep an eye on your oil pressure gauge and look for anomalies.)


Also to give you further piece of mind, there are plenty of guys who drill and tap their oil pan for oil return lines in turbo applications, and they can't get 100% of the shavings out of the oil pan, and they don't seem to be having any problems. (They drill and tap their oil pan when still in the car)

hope that makes you feel better.

-James
 
#17 ·
Yeah and if you don't have a HD magnet laying around a subwoofer, electric motor from an RC car, or they sell strong magnets at hardware stores for pretty cheap. Also one of those magnets on a flex pipe might work that they sell to pick up dropped hardware.
 
#18 ·
Well my engine had a valve keeper in the oil pan. I changed my oil after putting a magnetic drain plug on the oil change before. I pulled the plug out and there it was a freaking valve keeper..... I was like wtf..... Anyways if that small piece of metal did nothing I doubt that would do anything except sit on the bottom of the pan. As for an idea I think Jess's idea was the best for getting it out or get one of these and shove it in the oil drain hole. http://www.amazon.com/Ken-Tool-Carica-Telescoping-Magnet-17800/dp/B0002JMI9A
 
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