When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I was in the process of changing diff fluid. I was pouring the bottle of additive, attached to it was a small, 4 inch soft plastic tube. As i was dumping fluid in, the tube popped off and fell in. Do i have to pull diff to get it out or should i leave it or what.
Last edited by Mobifire; Nov 20, 2020 at 04:27 PM.
Common sense would say to take cover off, remove plastic tube, then you get to add all new fluid.
Why would you even think of letting the plastic grind up and possibly cause more problems?
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
You probably don't have a drain plug. Might be a good time to drill and tap one. Maybe the tube will flush out or not. If not, I would remove the cover and retrieve the tube.
it is possible to remove the diff cover without completely dropping the diff. you need to support it with a jack and reach over the top to remove the bolts. seems everyone on this forum always say to drop the diff completely to remove the cover. but not totally necessary.
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Reaching over the top to remove those bolts is easier said than done but it is doable. I find it easier to remove the cross member bolts and lower the whole unit.
Reaching over the top to remove those bolts is easier said than done but it is doable. I find it easier to remove the cross member bolts and lower the whole unit.
yeah i mean i just put it back up in the car in may so it should be pretty straight forward. Just a dumb mistake i didnt have to make. Im gonna attempt to use one of the camera thing to locate it and possibly grab it with a tool i have. If im gonna have it back out i might as well replace my clutch packs and stuff.
sorry to hear.
i would overfill the diff and hope the tube floats and flushes out of the fill hole.
then i would try one of those mechanic claw tools
if no luck id pull diff.
Not helping your problem (the gears are probably going to grind it all up, my luck it would end up in the bearing somehow) but for the next time...
Use a needle or T-pin
sorry to hear.
i would overfill the diff and hope the tube floats and flushes out of the fill hole.
then i would try one of those mechanic claw tools
if no luck id pull diff.
I agree, I would probably jack up the drivers side and put it on 2 jack stands. Overfill the diff. and see if it floats to the fill hole.
Or, attach a hose to an old shop vac that fits into the fill hole and see if it will suck the plastic tube enough to remove it.
Good luck.
If it was flexible plastic, you have little risk of doing any significant damage. That being said, the plastic tube SHOULD float on the dense diffy fluid. If you can come up with some kind of long-nosed tweezers or forceps, you should be able to grab it with some patient "fishing".
If you can't get it out, don't lose any sleep over it....
If it was flexible plastic, you have little risk of doing any significant damage. That being said, the plastic tube SHOULD float on the dense diffy fluid. If you can come up with some kind of long-nosed tweezers or forceps, you should be able to grab it with some patient "fishing".
If you can't get it out, don't lose any sleep over it....
i got another tube just like it, put it in the container of fluid and it sunk after about 1 minute. I think ill just pull diff apart this week.
edit: is there any fluid i could put in diff that it would float in? Maybe automatic transmission fluid?
Last edited by Mobifire; Nov 21, 2020 at 05:46 PM.
The density of the fluid must be higher than the density of the plastic. My mistake.
But, the risk to any metal running parts from that flimsy plastic is not worth worrying about, IMO.
P.S. You can still try 'fishing'. I have one of those flexible 4-pronged "grabbers" I inherited from my Dad (many years ago). It has come in handy for things like your situation. I once dropped a wiper door shoulder-bolt down the "fender hole of DEATH". Finally fished it out with the 'grabber'.
The density of the fluid must be higher than the density of the plastic. My mistake.
But, the risk to any metal running parts from that flimsy plastic is not worth worrying about, IMO.
P.S. You can still try 'fishing'. I have one of those flexible 4-pronged "grabbers" I inherited from my Dad (many years ago). It has come in handy for things like your situation. I once dropped a wiper door shoulder-bolt down the "fender hole of DEATH". Finally fished it out with the 'grabber'.
If you have a cheap scope with a monitor....suction the new fluid out.....use the scope to see the tube....use the flexible mechaic's fingers to extract the tube....if all that fails...rebuild the internals and remove the tube..
Wow. I've seen differentials which had metal pieces running thru it and had NO external symptoms that any operational defect existed. I can't imagine that the little plastic tube would offer and resistance or obstruction to gears, bearings or bushings in there.
But, if you must get it out so that you won't lose sleep, disassemble it.
Help!
