replacing timing chain. while installing crankshaft pulley, key pushed out of groove . do I pull engine , then pan or can I remove pan with engine in car? Or can I chance that it is safely in the bottom of the pan? This is a 92 140 series. Thanks

My opinion? It's not going anywhere if it's in the pan.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I would try removing the small sump on the passenger side of the pan. It bolts on separately and would let you get your hand in there. Maybe you'll get lucky and be able to pull out the key?

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Serenity-86' 300SDL 482,000 miles (on a "14" head!)

good suggestion, you dont want to remove pan. that access port allows quite a bit of space to get your hand (or stick magnet) in there

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Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !

Definately the best way to do it. If it did not make it to the pan then blow compressed air into the timing chain bay and help it along. Use a magnet to retrieve it.

Cheers,

Ed

WHO CARES if there's a key in the pan? It won't fit into the oil pump screen so it can't damage the oil pump or get into the oil filter, which would be the next stop, ... it is far heavier than oil so it won't even leave the bottom of the pan!

It'll probably make its way out in a future oil change.

If you have a rollover accident with the engine running however, it could possibly make its way up into the bottom of a piston.

The only important thing is that it's free of the timing chain and the oil-pump chain, and down in the pan.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

If you decide to go for it. I would pre engineer some kind of device with a magnet and try a fishing expedition through the oil drain plug hole. I know it sounds preposterious but if the recovery device is well thought out it could do the job very easily.

Since the car has not been run yet you also should have a pretty good ideal of the keys almost exact location. An old bicyle chain with a magnet on the end might have the required dexterity. It would allow you to get the length right for the area you think the key is located. Plus stiff enough to respond to a side sweep action. It would pivot well and lay flat on the bottom of the pan.


Do not remove your timing chain to use. Get a length of used bicycle chain or some other small chain. I also agree it would probably do no harm to leave it in there. Unfortunatly on general principals I would still go for it. Cannot tell you really why though.

I thought one problem the 350s had was bolts holding the windage tray down coming loose then busting through the oil pump screen?

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

I had one that destroyed one of the oil sprayers, crunched it into little pieces with the crank, those pieces and the bolt were in the crankcase for a while and never made it through the oil pump screen.

You'd have to block a substantial amount of the oil pump screen to create enough suction to damage it, it's about a 1-1/2"DIA screen IIRC, with about 14AWG steel wire. Not window screen.

I really don't understand the concept of wasting time trying to fish out a key when it will do no harm there. It'll be under the windage tray, can't get to anything. If it bothers you, put in a magnetic drain plug and you'll see it soon.

I have to believe that the only way you'd not know that it is of no concern, is that you've never had the oil pan off of an engine (at least not a 603.97x).

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

It takes 20 or so minutes to remove the side cover on the pan and get it out.

__________________
Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !

Thanks for all the responses. I can see there are some outside the box thinkers out there . It's true I have not had the pan off a 603 engine and had more or less decided to leave the key in the pan . your comment confirmed my thoughts. should I use locktite on the next one?