Need a 7MGE Oil Pan expert... 86.5

[mpo]

I had the misfortune of dropping a small bolt down the oil drain hole over by the last exhaust valve by #6. I didn't even know that hole was there! Anyway, this bolt made its way right down to the very rear of the oil pan, the little flat part just in front of the tranny. I thought I could fish it out through the drain plug but whenever I stick a wire in there it seems to hit a baffle right about where the sump area begins. Am I correct that there is a baffle there? The engine is in the car so taking the pan off is basically out of the question. I don't need the bolt so I figure it won't cause any harm there. It is a 8mm with a 13mm head and about an inch long, so it is pretty heavy and I think it will just sit there. I tried sticking a borescope down through the drain hole but it doesn't go straight down, there is something in the way, part of the casting I guess. Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[MDCmotorsports]

Flexible magnet.

 

[MA717MGTE]

you need to get it removed it can rattle around and throw off your knock sensor, here's a pix of a gte pan (same really)
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q199/ma717mgte/gteoilpan1b.jpg
you can remove it while in the car, just have to jack up the engine and it will take some time

hth

 

[mpo]

Hi,

Thanks for the fast answers. As far as the flexible magnet, as I said it is not a straight shot down the hole, and it is only about 1/2" dia and more than 2 feet down. And all the while this is in about the worst possible spot at the very back of the engine. AND even if I manage to snag it, it will only fit through the hole long ways, not any other way, so I think my odds are pretty low on that.

Looking at that photo I believe the rear is to the left is that correct? That seems to then show the drain plug on the passenger side but mine is on the driver side. Anyway it does show some kind of baffle there with a hole for the oil pump if I am reading that right. I don't have a engine hoist and I really don't cherish the thought of dropping the pan. The book hours on that job is 5 1/2. I am sure it would take me triple. How about this idea, drill a small hole in the pan and then weld it shut.

mpo

 

[Figit090]

drilling a hole will get metal shards into the pan

welding...i dunno. are you good at it?

are you ever going to sell the car? i'd be really worried if i saw a hole CUT in the oil pan.

if you're going to do all that i'd just drop it...

Here's an idea...i dont know if it's feasable because of obstructions/walls in the pan, but there are strong magnets you could probably place against the pan and move around until you find the bolt, and then drag it with the magnet to the oil drain plug. then you can somehow get it out that hole.

 

[cuel]

You can get a magnet that has a soft shaft, and will bend into whatever shape you want(I got mine from Matco, but I'm sure someone like Harbor Freight would have one as well). I'd try to get it through the drain as well.

 

[mpo]

That is an interesting magnet idea. I am not sure how that would work through the steel pan. If it was an aluminum pan than I would say it would definitely work. I think the steel pan will act as a magnetic "shield".

 

[mpo]

You can get a magnet that has a soft shaft, and will bend into whatever shape you want(I got mine from Matco, but I'm sure someone like Harbor Freight would have one as well). I'd try to get it through the drain as well.

I think that baffle is in the way. That is the problem. Otherwise I would agree with you 100%

 

[JesseH]

I think that baffle is in the way. That is the problem. Otherwise I would agree with you 100%

its worth a try though, if you were going to go to all the work of cutting and welding, it would be around the same ammount of work just to take the pan off and pull it out, I think that would be a better choice than cutting into your oil pan...as figit said, if you were ever going to sell the car most buyers would see a chop and weld on the oil pan and be a little bit hesitant about it.
thats just my .02

 

[CRE]

Mount a VERY strong magnet to the bottom of the pan to keep the bolt where it is and leave it there?

Seriously though, a strong magnet will pull the bolt despite the pan being steel. It'll be drawn to the stronger magnetic field. I would look for some pictures of the baffles to make sure you're not guiding it into an obstruction, then when you get it near the oil drain use a thin magnet to reach in and grab the little monster.

 

[Figit090]

neodymium magnets are extremely strong. the wrong pair can literally crush your fingers and come with a warning label...dont get ones THAT strong. but a weaker one you can pry off of metal should it get out of hand.

if it were me i would try to somehow suspend the magnet just a bit away from the pan and still be able to move it, like put it on little wheels or a couple little wooden dowels or something so it can roll without metal-metal resistance, and then you will hear the bolt rolling around instead of the strong magnet scraping against the pan. that way you'll have the magnetic field, and you can guide the bolt out. you could even go up the side of the pan with a neodymium magnet...

the bendable stick magnet sounds good, better than one on a flexable stick. an even better idea would be a maneuverable one. one on two sticks of flexible metal that you can turn much like you would turn one of those little spy cameras where you shorten the material on the left and the tip will bend that way... or shorten the onr on the right and it will bend right.

lemme know if that doesn't make sense

 

[CRE]

if it were me i would try to somehow suspend the magnet just a bit away from the pan and still be able to move it

A dense piece of cardboard would do the trick.

 

[Figit090]

good idea! i kept thinking of something small, but take that idea and get a large piece of cardbord, or just enough so you can span most of the distance from the rear of the pan to the hole and keep it in place while you scoot the magnet... low noise and hopefully you can hear the bolt rattle around inside and you can navigate it around obsticals....at least it will be well lubricated and probably wont get stuck via friction

hehehe....

 

[mpo]

I would look for some pictures of the baffles to make sure you're not guiding it into an obstruction

That is an issue. Have you looked at the picture provided in the 3rd post? Is that the same as what I have? It seems to have the drain plug on the wrong side.

Mike

 

[mpo]

You guys sure have a lot of faith in the magnet idea. I remember when I was young I had a lot of faith in my ideas also!! Then I got experience and my faith went down a bit!

mpo

 

[mpo]

Well first I must correct something I said, my drain plug IS on the passenger side. Hmmmm.

Now as for the "dragging the bolt with the magnet idea" I did a test which you can all do yourself if you are curious. I got a steel pizza pan (a magnet sticks to it) and this pan is much thinner than an oil pan I think (but equally oily...) and I have a pretty strong magnet, and in order to give this test the best possible chance of working, instead of a bolt I got a steel ball bearing and put that on one side of the pan. As I feared the magnet could not drag it around. It is just a matter of science I believe. This is probably explains why religion is more popular than science.

So if I hit a spiritual low, and admit that I must drop the pan, does anyone have a recommended procedure? I will also do a search and see if there is one posted already.

Thanks

 

[Figit090]

how strong was the magnet you were using.

do you know what a neodymium magnet is? if you dont you haven't experienced a strong magnet. period.

but i haven't tested the theory like you did....but who knows.

 

[starscream5000]

I had a maget once that was attached to a broom stick when I was younger. I stuck it to an air vent in the house, I tried getting it off, it ended up take the air vent out of the floor, along with the screws holding it in. That must have been one of those neodymium magnets.

I also put it too a TV once :nono:

 

[shaeff]

Well first I must correct something I said, my drain plug IS on the passenger side. Hmmmm.

Now as for the "dragging the bolt with the magnet idea" I did a test which you can all do yourself if you are curious. I got a steel pizza pan (a magnet sticks to it) and this pan is much thinner than an oil pan I think (but equally oily...) and I have a pretty strong magnet, and in order to give this test the best possible chance of working, instead of a bolt I got a steel ball bearing and put that on one side of the pan. As I feared the magnet could not drag it around. It is just a matter of science I believe. This is probably explains why religion is more popular than science.
Thanks

i don't know man, i have a set of magnets that'll drag a 12x1.25mm bolt around a pan at my house... (and yes, they came with a warning...)

-shaeff

 

[Figit090]

i don't know man, i have a set of magnets that'll drag a 12x1.25mm bolt around a pan at my house... (and yes, they came with a warning...)

-shaeff

sounds good... i think this needs further investigation. if you got it up to the side of the pan past that baffle thing and let it roll down into the bottom...