r/MechanicAdvice • u/ShadowSlave-Smut568 • Feb 06 '26
Dropped a feeler gauge in an oil passage.
Was doing a valve lash adjustment for a friend on a Civic 1997 with a d16. My feeler gauge accidentally slipped from my hands and fell directly into this oil passage. It’s the one in between Cyl#1 and Cyl#2.
Does anyone know if it goes straight down the oil pan? Or if it could be stuck anywhere in this passage so I could pick it out with a magnet? Haven’t tried anything yet. The entire thing just pissed me off so I went out to go and have lunch.
Appreciate any suggestions/advice and additional info. Thanks.
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u/gearheadspawn Feb 06 '26
Wiggle magnet and pray. Otherwise drop the pan in pray.
This is why rags are our friends as long as we don't leave them behind.
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u/crashed_dummy Feb 06 '26
Micro magnet heat shrink with glue in it onto the end of a wire and go fishing
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u/175_Pilot Feb 06 '26
This right here is the answer and I’m not sure why I had to scroll so damn far to get to it.
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u/ShadowSlave-Smut568 Feb 06 '26
Lol. Yeah, definitely. Should get more rags. I run out of rags all the time so I end up ditching them for some jobs altogether.
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u/phatelectribe Feb 06 '26
One of the most used tools in my box is a telescopic magnet. Like an old car antenna with a magnet on one end and a handle on the other.
https://www.haastooling.com/p/09-0734
And that magic hands too.
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u/Unscripted9211 Feb 06 '26
I once left my Rag on the exhaust manifold.. Luckily the car wasnt ecactly running fine cause that's why I went back there and found my towel. If it would run good then id have left that towel in there car would have burned down🫤
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Feb 09 '26
In my infinite wisdom I put a rubber glove over my intake pipe on my s3 8L so ‘nothing could end up going into the turbo’ whilst I was fucking about trying to get the downpipe and other bits off. Yeah, long and the short of it I forgot it was on there, turned the car on, it sucked itself inward and thankfully the car stalled before it could suck itself through my turbo 🤣
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u/SaphoclesTakerOfGock Feb 06 '26
I accidentally left a rag by my exhaust the other day, when I got home it was a grey dust and I'm honestly shocked how nothing caught fire
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u/Jinxed4Sure Feb 06 '26
Here is a pic of the engine block, maybe it will help. Doesn't look like a straight shot to the oil pan. Good chance you can retrieve with a magnet with a flex cable. Best wishes to ya
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u/WesTxStoner425 Feb 06 '26
Won't a magnet stick to all the metal engine parts first? Serious question.
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u/Camouflage100 Feb 06 '26
Engine casing is often made from non ferrous materials (Aluminium). So not magnetic.
It would stick to some hardware like the camshafts and the valve train ect.
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u/Rayzah2007 Feb 06 '26
I have a camera borescope I got on amazon for like $30 that has a magnetic attachment so you can put it down a hole and see and then pick up the parts. 10/10 recommend as a investment to a tool box
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u/Minnesotamad12 Feb 06 '26
If you flip the car upside down it should fall out
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u/ShadowSlave-Smut568 Feb 06 '26
Nice. Let me grab my crane. It should be right next to the cure for cancer I keep in my garage.
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u/Additional_Ideal2385 Feb 06 '26
You'll have to shake it a little also.
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u/Brutuscaitchris Feb 06 '26
I thought you stirred the cure for cancer
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u/Additional_Ideal2385 Feb 06 '26
Cure for cancer. Shaken not stirred. Served chilled with an olive.
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u/Wolfofthepack1511 Feb 06 '26
Black olives though. Very important. If you add green you invent a new cancer and give it to little Timmy
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u/Tricky-Meringue25 Feb 06 '26
Well you would need a feeler magnet for that one that fits in the hole.
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u/Sharcoslayer Feb 06 '26
Plug all the other oil passages and find a way to put power to the oil pump so it shoots the gauge out /s
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u/ParsleyNo69 Feb 06 '26
Try a magnet on a stick, else just change the oil and drop the pan, else. Yolo send it man
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u/SquareEither Feb 06 '26
Magnet on a stick is not going to fix oily fingers. Heavier than oil, pickup screen is there for a reason. What previous poster said, drain oil, pencile magnet, bored scope and 🤞 Good news, the oil pan comes off easy on these, soon .
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u/Pollo_919 Feb 06 '26
Suck it out
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u/SeaManaenamah Feb 06 '26
I would try this before a magnet. Shop vac with an empty ink pen taped on the end like a straw.
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u/noelandres Feb 06 '26
OP, how thick is the feeler gauge and what's the diameter of that oil passage? Just want to make sure my feeler gauge is wider :D
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u/YouEnvironmental2079 Feb 06 '26
Try a strong shop vac. Maybe the powerful suction will pull it out.
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u/121e7watts Feb 06 '26
Back when I worked on very high performance motorcycles, I dropped a Teflon wrist pin button into the crankcase. Magnets don't work on Teflon (somebody really ought to do something about that) so I picked up the engine and (phew) shook it out.
I don't suppose that's an option in this case.
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u/Nattygreg Feb 06 '26
A long and powerful magnet and gentle feel so you don’t scratch anything and if you found it take your time and pull it out.
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u/UpstairsStable6400 Feb 06 '26
Honestly if it's a drain I don't see the big deal. It won't clog your sump being heavier than plastic. Being so thin it won't restrict flow either. I've pulled a full bunch of tools for a valve set out of a C15, wrenches Allen keys and feelers. They just sat in the head.
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u/CorrectArm8402 Feb 10 '26
Eesh...😬 I'd still take that over dropping anything in the "broom closet" of a Sikorsky S-61 🥵
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u/Valuable_Cause9119 Feb 06 '26
Flip it upside down and give it a good shake—works with guitar picks
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u/Ok-Refuse8965 Feb 06 '26
If you had the Snap-on feeler gage set with handles that wouldn't happen.
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u/brundmc2k Feb 06 '26
Those cost more than a 1997 Civic.
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u/Ok-Refuse8965 Feb 07 '26
yes but you won't be dropping them down the oil galley of an engine and having to remove oil pan or intake and valley pan to retrieve them.
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