Something fell down in to engine!

[DougQ45]

While changing out some fuel injectors and the fuel injection wiring harness (90Q), the plenum was off and the holes exposed. Of course a small piece of plastic from the old wiring harness clips broke off and popped into the air and right down in to the #8 intake collector tube. It was a small piece, no more than 3/8 inch, and paper clip size in diameter. Will this cause any harm to the: i) cylinder, ii) valves, or iii) valve seat when I fire it up??? The plastic is very hard and brittle.

In disgust I stopped work right after and could try to fish it out with assuming it did not make it into the combustion chamber. Any thoughts??

[DAEDALUS]

Ack, that's terrible! I got your message; did you get my email? Can you see the valve? Is it open? You can always remove the runner. How's this...get a vacuum cleaner with a flex hose. Buy a 3" length of small rubber hose from Pep Boys and, using some duct tape, adapt the rubber hose to the vacuum hose, then go to town sucking everything out. I think my only concern would be if the piece of plastic got caught under the valve, I'd be worried the piston *might* hit the valve once or twice. Not sure if it would do any damage anyway. No chance of damaging the valve seat! Besides my 1 concern, it should quickly burn off pretty quick I think if it got stuck in the cylinder.

[maxnix]

I would add to Daedulus' post to put some cheese cloth around the opening of the original vacuum inlet, loosely to form a pocket. This way you will see if you extracted the piece afte the operation. Must block intake runners!

I would not want to burn off any plastic in a cylinder.

[maxnix]

I would add to Daedulus' post to incorporate some cheese cloth around the original opening of the vacuum hose. It should be arranged loosely enough to form a pocket, before you proceed to build the appartus which he describes. This way, you can examine what you extract from the runner and cylinder with the vacuum.

Must block intake runners!

I wouldn't want to fire off plastic in any of my cylinders.

[Q451990]

Whatever you do... please get this out before you re-start that engine! I'd get some sort of small flash light and see if you can find the peice down in there. A pair of "lady fingers" (the flexible metal tube with metal prongs that can grip things) can be a lifesaver in situations like this.

Heath

[reggiegsd]

This should be a routine "best practice" for a mechanic in a shop or at home. Its called "Foriegn Material Exclusion". Any time the engine, the intake, or exhaust is opened, the opening into the engine is covered. Tennis balls in the intakes and exhausts or clean shop rags taped in place all work.

I always keep an attachment for my shop vac with one of my wife's old stockings taped on the end. I always vacuum out the openings just before reassembly. I hate to think how many lost washers and good size bits of unidentifyable "crud" I have found sitting on top of intake valves. Most of the stuff I never new I lost.

[911/Q45]

A flexible probe with some sticky goo on the end, perhaps a small wad of inside out duct tape may snag your errant piece of plastic.

[DougQ45]

7 weeks later I finally had the desire to finish this beast off, and the cheesecloth screen with duct tape around a smaller diamater hose hooked up to the vaccum worked!!! Much thanks to you guys.

The piece the came out was about as big as a pinkie fingernail clipping--- small and probably harmless but why take chances with the Q engine.

[maxnix]

Good going, and now you have peace of mind.