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Through what may only be described as collosal stupidity, I dropped a screw (oil cooler screw) down this big hole underneath the turbo pedastel.
How badly am I screwed? Can I just leave it and nothing will happen? Do I need to do something to get it out (is there a way to get it back out of that hole? It appears to have gone down quite far, I tried to stick a piece of wire down to see, and it seems to eventually bottom out.
I was thinking/praying/hoping that that hole dropped straight through to the oil pan. It seemed to go pretty deep (at least 12 inches based on the galvanized wire I pushed down there - so I was hoping it was some kind of drain hole to the pan. The hole itself is kind of wierd - doesn't look drilled out or formed - kind of like it was just part of a mold or something.
It probably DOES go to the oil pan - eventually. I bet there's a splash plate between the crank and pan though, and it could truly suck to have the screw bouncing around with the crank/rod/piston assembly.
I know this does you no good at the moment, but USE RAGS (preferably clean ones) to plug holes when working on stuff. Just don't forget to remove them as you're backing out.
So I shoved a scope down there - there's a horizontal "bar" that kind of prevents me from going further. Trying to get an sd card in the scope so I can take a picture.
Separate, but related question, that alan wrench socket just above the hole I dropped the screw in - do you think that's for inspection? I'm debating opening that and seeing what I can see. AFAICT it opens directly into the cavity where I dropped the screw...
As far as I can tell, judging from the 5th picture, it looks like the hole does drop directly into the sump perhaps? Really wondering if that hole is an inspection hole that I can open up to look inside.
Post your VIN and I'll send you the WIS instructions regarding removing the oil pan. Hopefully it can be removed without having to lift the engine.
Look at the bottom of the turbo where it mates to the block. Does the large hole your refer to match up with a corresponding hole on the turbo i.e. an oil feed?
Last edited by BlackML550; Mar 18, 2024 at 07:13 AM.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
