In the process of replacing the valve stem seals a valve spring ball cup dissapeared...poof!...abracadabra!!!...unbelievable!

I don't think it dropped into one on the little holes on top of the head (that were conveniently placed to swallow this tiny part).. but if it did drop in there how do I take it out?...

Does the head now have to come off?

This is my spare 1988 190E 2.3 with 100,000 miles and I really want it to last. So if there is the possibility of a small part like that rattling inside the motor...where would it go? Or is there a filter that might stop it down the line and prevent bedlam from happening.

Thanks in advance for your illuminating answers and Happy Holidays to all!

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I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him. -Galileo Galilei, physicist and astronomer (1564-1642)

Don't you hate that... When I did my water pump I had the dip stick tube out. I dropped a small nut and it disappeared forever. I'm still not sure if it is in the oil pan.

You are a little unclear with " this is my spare . . . " , is the motor in the car?

The part may or may not have fallen in.

First, have a look with a flashlight at all of the oil drain holes, it might not have made it to the bottom. Use a magnet to pull out as grabbing it may cause it to fall further.

If motor is out of car, turn it upside down and shake. Pulling the pan is an option as well. ( Some cars have a steel lower pan that is easy to pull even when in the car. )

Is this cap larger than the oil drain plug? If not, a magnetic plug would eventually grab it.

The cap could get caught between a connecting rod and side of crank on the way down but things would have to be just right for this to happen. I'd turn the motor by hand at first. Once the cap makes its way in to the pan, it will just sit there. The oil pickup has a screen on it to prevent pieces from being sucked into the oil pump.

Spare car...although I should get a spare motor.

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I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him. -Galileo Galilei, physicist and astronomer (1564-1642)

Ouch, I always dreaded that. I just looked at my spare 3.0 head just to see where the part might go. Look in the spark plug recesses - don't remove the plugs until you're sure it's not in there, for obvious reasons. Only other place it could go would be down the little oil drain holes near each exhaust valve spring. These are pretty straight, and it would probably drop right thru to the pan. but it might hang on an edge of the head gasket, might see it down in there if it did. Maybe run a small magnet down each hole, or even run a hose or something down each hole to be sure they are clear. if it got thru, then the odds are very very great it will fall to the bottom and cause no harm. As stated above, maybe turn the motor over by hand to be sure. I once dropped a small piece of plastic chain guide down in the motor, and 10 years later when I took the pan off, there it was right below the chain sitting on the pan, never even moved from where it landed. No worries.

DG

Thanks...its what I thought. From now on I will forever plug up the holes with lint free cloth as soon as I open the valve area.

__________________
I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him. -Galileo Galilei, physicist and astronomer (1564-1642)