All I accidentally pushed the grommet through the hole. I tried to fish it off the valley pan but it fell down into the valley. Attached is a photo of what my valley looks like. DO I need to remove it ASAP or can I drive on it a little while? Mike
I'd want it out of there. No good can come of leaving it in there. How did it get past the splash shield?
Potential worst-case scenario issues: ground up into pieces and plugs lifters or blocks oil pickup screen or oil passage. Best-case..it just sits there and doesn't go anywhere, stays intact and sticks to oil pickup, or is ground up and ends up in the oil filter. Assuming it is all rubber. I personally wouldn't want it wandering around in my engine, but pulling the intake is a pain.
PCV grommets are a problem when installing the valve after its on. The hole is too small. I take all new grommets and run a 1/2" drill bit through it several times,still seals and the valve goes in without pushing the grommet into the valley.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B018JRHF9E/ref=psdc_553242_t3_B07C3H7JH1?th=1 Not easy with it the hole on the back of the intake, but I'd give this a heck of a shot before pulling the intake... Edit: And, ASAP - I wouldn't run the engine with it in there floating around.
I use some 3M weatherstrip on the gromet when installing a new one, after cleaning the intake/valve cover hole with acetone. Then apply a little di-electric grease on the inside of the gromet before putting the PCV valve in. I have never had a problem with them.
Endoscopic cameras are like $20 on Ebay. You can hook them up to your phone or tablet. It will let you look inside and find it
So your saying by the pic that you have no splash shield or vally pan. And you poked it in and in it went!! HA ha holy molly....I did that one time too. I used my boroscope to find it , then used one of those flexable grabbers.
I do have a valley pan. When it fell through it was lodged between the back of the pan and the block....as I tried to fish it out it went down. I guess I'll be pulling the intake.
I had the same thing happen to me. Did a whole thread on it here when it happened. I had to pull the intake off to get it out. Next time, let the grommet sit in a bowl of hot/boiling water for a minute or two to soften it up before installing it. That way, when you insert the PCV valve, there's a better chance of it not pushing through the hole again.
Same for me as Copperhead for installation.. I had no problem removing the old grommet, either.I think I used a knife to cut the grommet and a pair of needle nose to remove.
