Where do rear oil holes go on M103 engine?
 

I was torquing my valve cover bolts on and one of them snapped in two...In my attempt to pull it out of the block...it fell out of the pliers and down (I can only guess) into the oil hole at the back.

Where do this go? I used a coathanger and it goes down quite a way compared to the other holes...so its not jammed...

I looked all over the head and didn't see it so it had to have fallen down that hole (its about 1/4 of an inch length)

I don't want to turn on the engine until I know where that hole goes...
I hope it goes right to the oil pan...

Much appreciated.

I think it does lead right down to the oil pan. Have you tried sticking a long magnetic wand down in there to fish it out?

I tried magnetizing a thin piece of metal I had...but it didn't seem to fish anything out...

If it goes right down the oil pan then I should be okay. Gonna get the oil changed very soon and hopefully it falls out.

I think the oil pan has little guide channels in it that would prevent something from just rolling to the front of the pan....

Go to harbor freight or sears and get a $2-3 good magnetic wand. Cheap and easy way to retrieve stuff. Harbor freight sells one with a really powerful magnet on it.

Yes you are right.

http://www.ps2cho.net/downloads/photos/300TE/oilpan.jpg

Thanks for the info at H/F

That oil pan from the same car as your red valve train ps2cho?

Getting a strong magnet down in a hole like that will be tough since it will want to clamp onto the sides as you try to push it down. I have a little three pronged device that might do the job though if you can get the thing onto the end.

Those two options failing I think I would want to drain the oil and if necessary use a funnel to pour oil or diesel fuel down the hole and try to wash the bolt end over to the drain plug.

I would be uncomfortable with it being in my pan. An engine has very fast moving parts in it and if it should somehow bounce up and get hit by a rod end it will become a bullet.

It seems unlikely but I would not risk it in my motor.