foiled...

Last night I did an oil change on my V6 Mustang when I was too tired to pay proper attention, after working 12 hours (Doh.)

I accidentally allowed a piece of the aluminum foil seal (that seals the top of the oil jug) to get poured down the filler tube. This piece is about 1/2" x 2/3". I didn't see it go down the tube, but the jug made a "glug" sound and then I couldn't find the foil anymore.

For those who don't know the engine layout, the filler tube is at the front of the driver's side valve cover, near the timing chain. I shined a flashlight in there and couldn't find the foil.

Should I:

1) Freak out and start pulling parts until I find the foil - valve cover, oil plan, etc? (Because it might plug an oil return passage, etc.)

2) Hope it eventually makes its way to the pan, filter, or pick-up screen and do a short oil change interval?

3) Do nothing.

4) Plan B - your suggestion.

Lesson learned: when it's late at night, I should stick to jugs that don't contain oil or foil.

Thanks,
Dave

 

I have no suggestions Dave but I am always worried if I miss a teeny sliver of the foil on those things.
Can't imagine the whole thing
best of luck
here is a bump

 

Damn man, that sucks! I dropped the foil top into a motorcycle gas tank (fuel additive) and it's been driving me nuts. Fuel is a little different than engine oil though... I would try 'flushing' the engine oil to see if it comes out the drain plug. I'd buy a few extra quarts, open the drain plug and start pouring into the filler tube. You might get lucky and have it flush out. You'd be able to reuse the engine oil also, since it's new. I'd try that before tearing into anything. I'm not sure of the mechanical ramifications of leaving it vs tearing apart the block so someone else can hopefully help you out with that.

 

I wouldn't stop till I found that thing man. I had a gasket break apart on a supercharged dodge dakota. That crap clogged the suction screen and the engine fried.

Don't leave it in there imho.

 

I never understood why they gotta use that shit on the bottles.

I make sure I peel every bit of that stuff off when I change my oil.

You could change the oil again and hope you find the piece.....