Hello: I have a 78 300D that I love; I'm a crap mechanic but I do the regular maintenance. Was changing my oil today and half of the old filter got stuck in the housing (or whatever you call it) into which the oil filter fits. A bunch of little pieces of plastic and rubber slipped down into the feed hole that flows into the filter. I got all of it out but one little fingernail size piece, which is lodged deep in there. Not even a grabber could grab it.

MY QUESTION: So...my (shaky) understanding is that since the oil is flowing OUT from this area and into the filter, there's ZERO chance of this little piece of plastic ever entering the engine and causing any damage.

But I love this car and don't want to mess it up (and get stranded somewhere), and at least a little piece of mind. If need be, I guess I could dismantle the whole oil filter housing thing, but I don't have my tools in my current location and would prefer not to if I don't have to.

Would love any advice. Thank you.

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Try a hemostat as your grabber.
Available from medical suppy house, a m a z o n, etc.

Alternatively, try a needle nose pair of vice grip pliers, alligator clip, or spring-loaded tweezers.

A hemostat would probably work the best though.
Best of luck, hope this helps.

__________________
78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

You're right to claim to have a shaky understanding. Get that piece out by any means necessary. How did you even get plastic in there in the first place?

Oil flows inwards through the oil filter and down through that central area. Don't dare run the engine with debris in there.

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Persist and you will get it. If you think it is stuck it will have to be something that will hold it while removing. If it is just way down but not stuck try thick grease on the end of a wood dowel or better yet double face emblem tape on the dowel.

Another way might be to shut off the fuel lever, put oil in the engine and crank it to see if oil pressure pushes it loose. Three problems with this, it could pull the part in but that is unlikely, it could be MESSY and you'll need an assistant at the key to make sure it does not start and run. Try this at your own risk.

Good luck and I commend you for trying your maintenance. Stuff happens even to pros.

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Make a hook out of a piece of wire and pull it out of there. Careful to not push in further in. It IS the oil supply tube.

NO NO NO! Oil enters the filter from the outer diameter and exits through the center. Oil pressure will push the object right into the oil gallery.



My suggestion is to try vacuum, if you can. Otherwise, get surgical tweezers from a drugstore and pluck it out.

Shop vac with a piece of 3/4" ish diameter heater hose taped to the large hose. Be aware you will get some oil in the hose and vac.

Thanks...good to know...vacuum is a good idea. He could reduce the hose diameter in steps using clear vinyl tubing to get directly on the object.

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Thanks for the head's up, everyone. I concocted a Rube Goldbergish vacuum device out of some old plumbing parts but it only sucked up a bunch of oil. The little plastic bastard is still in therel. Ach. The whole is too small for pliers so am awaiting a pair from hemostats from a m a z o n. If that doesn't work, I'm pretty hosed.

I fear I need to take the whole thing apart, which brings me to another question:

QUESTION: A mechanic around here said he could take off the entire oil filter housing but is worried about replacing gaskets etc once he gets it off..and those could hard to find.
-- Has anyone done that? Would I need to replace gaskets when taking off the oil filter housing, or can it be taken off and put back on again?

Thanks for all your help. This is a freaking nightmare but I'll figure it out (I hope).

Other than in an emergency, definitely want new gaskets. They should be available. IIRC it requires a very short allen wrench on one of the bolts at the housing. I think the wrench may have to be ground short.
Persist you'll get it!

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

I would take the oil filter housing off the engine and remove the plastic while on a work table. I've got my '84 300d ripped apart right now, replacing various gaskets etc. and coincidentally I have the oil filter housing off of the car right now. Let me get some pictures for you.

Here is the housing off the car, and also you can see the gasket you will have to replace which mates the housing to the block. (I'll send you a link to the gasket if you end up going this route)






And to remove the lodged plastic you could hit the housing on a table, or if that doesn't work there is access to this area once you remove the oil pressure plate which is held on by 5 bolts. You would also need to replace this gasket.



Here is the access point:



And I put my finger through to show you:



This is the right way to go about it. However, there is a possibility you can fish it out without removing the housing. Though it could get lodged deeper and deeper and you might have to just remove the oil filter housing after all.

This is an incredible help. THANK YOU. Really appreciate the photos and instruction. I'll get to work.

I assume the gasket is this: https://www.*********.com/gbproducts/SC/6184-08038487.html?utm_content=SC&utm_term=1977-1985+Mercedes+300D+Oil+Filter+Housing+Gasket+Victor+Reinz+616+184+07+80+77-85+Mercedes+Oil+Filter+Housing+Gasket+1981+1984&fp=pp&gbm=a&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ff&utm_campaign=*********+Google+Base&gclid=CjwKCAjwhevaBRApEiwA7aT537pQUPH6IDHV-DdyZKyeSqDilTsFWMowOOj1PxI34w7dM3z3k2h4lhoCwYoQAvD_BwE&ad=47433948732

PRESSURE PLATE: https://www.***************/pn/11940034-6161841380?vehicle=1983_MERCEDES_240D&brand=VictorReinz&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=froogleSKU_MERCEDES&gclid=CjwKCAjwhevaBRApEiwA7aT536AvHnK8qPfyAsvpYyOL_234O7Vt8fuLifVDznNHpdHmTUtH90srZhoCmBgQAvD_BwE

Thanks again.

Those links seem to be blocked, but I did just send you a PM with links to both gaskets. Let me know if the links I sent you worked. But you can of course buy them from other sellers. However, the gasket that mates the oil filter housing to the engine block is very particular. If you use a paper gasket it will most likely start leaking after a bit of mileage so you must be careful and only use the updated waffle style gasket.

Before taking the housing off the engine, try using a long bit of coat hanger wire bent at the far end .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Are you that visable piece is the ONLY piece that got down in there?