HELP! Piece of vacuum pump fell into motor
 

The vacuum pump on my 300D 2.5 Turbo (W124 with a 602.962 motor) crapped out about a week ago. Of course, I parked the car immediately so I would not incur any damage to the motor. I ordered the new part from Phil (only $279!!!) who had it across the country and at my doorstep in about 10 hours.

I went to install it today, and when I unbolted the old pump from the block the pump pieces fell everywhere. There were two little parts that landed on the timing chain. I knew these would be bad news if they went into the motor so I carefully went to pick them out with some tweezers. I got one part out, but the other fell back into the motor.

I haven't had one of these motors apart before, so I'm not sure where the part would have gone. I assumed that it probably fell into the oil pan. I drained the oil, and removed the access panel on the side of the pan so I could feel around in the pan. I found several little shavings and pieces from the old pump, but I did not find the part that I was looking for.

The part is small enough that it may have drained out with the oil, but until I strain the oil to find the part I think it may still be in the engine. I'm going to let the car sit for a day or two and let gravity take its course. Hopefully I can find the part then, but what if I can't?

Where could this part be, and what do I need to do to get it out of my motor? I need to get this thing back together soon so I can sell it. I'm leaving for Vanuatu with the Peace Corps Oct. 1!!!!

I am not too familar with the diesel engine, but if it would be a gasoline engine, I would not loose too much sleep over this.
If the part felt in the oil pan, it should stay there for the rest of the life of the car without causing any problem. There's a screen at the oil pump would prevent the piece to go to a critical part of the engine.
jackd

I agree with Jack.. First there is gravity, then there is a screen to pass through, and then, if it makes it through the oil pump, the filter will surely stop it.. Drive on..

The big problem is:
 

did it all go all the way down into the sump? That's ok, for reasons cited by previous posters, but if there's a piece setting somewhere on the timing chain or one of its gears (or the oil pump drive chain on some models), it could throw everything out of time by getting between the chain and the cogs. That would lead to the sort of situation which in classical myth teachers' terms would be when "the archetypal excrement hits the legendary ventilation machine."