Fuel injector O-ring dropped in to manifold
Discussion
Replaced my fuel injectors last night with a set of 30lb bosch red injectors. Had a problem with one of the injectors getting stuck in the manifold. When I tried to pull it back out to line up with the fuel rail the plastic o ring retainer must have broken and as a result both the retainer and o-ring have dropped into the inlet manifold.
Tried to fish this out without any luck and will try and borrow an inspection camera to have a look where it is. Any suggestions for getting at this without removing the manifold.
Also wondered what the likely consequences are of just starting the engine If I don’t manage to fish it out. There seems to be differing opinions on other forums; consensus seems to be that it will just get blown out though the exhaust and burn up ahead of the cat, however I’d be worried that there is a real possibility that it will get jammed in one of the valves and potentialy cause some sort of damage.
Tried to fish this out without any luck and will try and borrow an inspection camera to have a look where it is. Any suggestions for getting at this without removing the manifold.
Also wondered what the likely consequences are of just starting the engine If I don’t manage to fish it out. There seems to be differing opinions on other forums; consensus seems to be that it will just get blown out though the exhaust and burn up ahead of the cat, however I’d be worried that there is a real possibility that it will get jammed in one of the valves and potentialy cause some sort of damage.
jam in a valve or get caught down the side of a piston I guess is the two main issues... neither of which are disirable... I'd try my best to get it out (no doubt its in one of the long run feeders!)... but I'd not start it up... Taking the manifould off if ness... If your as lucky as me it will be on the one where the valve is open and when fishing you actualy push it into the cylinder 
...
BTW whats the plastic O ring retainer?.. arn't these moulded plastic where the O ring sits in the grove... Or is it the plastic end your refering to... Do you have a pic of whats left?...
... BTW whats the plastic O ring retainer?.. arn't these moulded plastic where the O ring sits in the grove... Or is it the plastic end your refering to... Do you have a pic of whats left?...
Edited by TVR Beaver on Wednesday 17th April 08:50
If you know which runner it went down you could turn the engine over so the inlet valve on that cyl is open, then blast airline air at high pressure into the combustion chamber through the spark plug hole and try and blast it back out of the inlet. cover the other inlets over though, you wouldn't want it to come out only to disappear down an adjacent hole!
Thanks for the advice guys. Picked up a boroscope camera with a couple of hook attachments at lunch time, so will be trying a spot of keyhole surgey tonight. Will also try the portable vacuum cleaner option with a modified small diameter hose.
A couple of photes attached:
With retainer and O'ring
Without
I have couple of spare O'rings but no retainer, which seem to be impossible to get hold of on their own. The local company who services these said they could't service it without the retainer and I would have to but a new injector for £70. I bought all 8 for £150, flow tested and reconditioned with new Orings.
A couple of photes attached:
With retainer and O'ring
Without
I have couple of spare O'rings but no retainer, which seem to be impossible to get hold of on their own. The local company who services these said they could't service it without the retainer and I would have to but a new injector for £70. I bought all 8 for £150, flow tested and reconditioned with new Orings.
The love of fitting these bosch injectors is beyond me, the Lucas are metal, no plastic washers or nozzles just waiting to get eaten by your engine... And the Lucas injectors can be sourced in different flow rates... MA has a lot to answer for IMHO 
OP the plastic & o-ring will probably not have dropped into the engine, just before the short return to the valve there is quite a flat area it is likely sat in. Yout approach to retrieve it will be very dependent upon which cylinder it is. The middle pots are easily access down the manifold if you remove the plenum & trumpet base ~ the outer ones are a b
h.
OP the plastic & o-ring will probably not have dropped into the engine, just before the short return to the valve there is quite a flat area it is likely sat in. Yout approach to retrieve it will be very dependent upon which cylinder it is. The middle pots are easily access down the manifold if you remove the plenum & trumpet base ~ the outer ones are a b
h.Success
Found the offending items above the valve
Tried the hook tool on the end of the boroscope with out any luck. gave up after a while as I was worried this would also drop into the manifold.
Next tried connecting a section of power steering hose to a vacuum cleaner and fed it into the manifold via the trumpet. after a couple of attempts I thought I had them, but stupidly turned of the vacuum and they dropped back in as they were just wedged in the end of the hose. Finally got them out after a couple more attempts.
Found the offending items above the valve
Tried the hook tool on the end of the boroscope with out any luck. gave up after a while as I was worried this would also drop into the manifold.
Next tried connecting a section of power steering hose to a vacuum cleaner and fed it into the manifold via the trumpet. after a couple of attempts I thought I had them, but stupidly turned of the vacuum and they dropped back in as they were just wedged in the end of the hose. Finally got them out after a couple more attempts.
angus99 said:
Success
Found the offending items above the valve
Tried the hook tool on the end of the boroscope with out any luck. gave up after a while as I was worried this would also drop into the manifold.
Next tried connecting a section of power steering hose to a vacuum cleaner and fed it into the manifold via the trumpet. after a couple of attempts I thought I had them, but stupidly turned of the vacuum and they dropped back in as they were just wedged in the end of the hose. Finally got them out after a couple more attempts.
Excellent!! Great pics BTW. That's a handy camera to have.Found the offending items above the valve
Tried the hook tool on the end of the boroscope with out any luck. gave up after a while as I was worried this would also drop into the manifold.
Next tried connecting a section of power steering hose to a vacuum cleaner and fed it into the manifold via the trumpet. after a couple of attempts I thought I had them, but stupidly turned of the vacuum and they dropped back in as they were just wedged in the end of the hose. Finally got them out after a couple more attempts.
nice intake 
cant say I am a lover of the way those o'rings are retained with that clip personally Sardonicus said:
cant say I am a lover of the way those o'rings are retained with that clip personally 
There's probably nothing wrong with them - In fairness they are likely to be fine used in manifolds they are designed for (that only have @1/4" hole & complete OD is supported IYSWIM) It's just that that half retainer in the LR manifold is designed for injectors with a solid metal nose IMHO.
spend said:
There's probably nothing wrong with them - In fairness they are likely to be fine used in manifolds they are designed for (that only have @1/4" hole & complete OD is supported IYSWIM) It's just that that half retainer in the LR manifold is designed for injectors with a solid metal nose IMHO.
I will be sticking with my Vectra 1588 2 hole inj's running at 3 BAR Dave they don't protrude and nothing to fall off the ends 
and for this reason alone as some styles have pressed caps 
Trouble is Simon even those that look to be solid just have the plastic nozzle pressed on, and it does come off (quite easily on some ~ I think its a case of russian roulette which ones TBH) obviously not something you wish to test on expensive injectors, but I've seen a few & it was plenty enough to put me off that style. Never minding the problem with versions that poke down onto the tract blocking flow which are an absolute no-no IMHO.
spend said:
Trouble is Simon even those that look to be solid just have the plastic nozzle pressed on, and it does come off (quite easily on some ~ I think its a case of russian roulette which ones TBH) obviously not something you wish to test on expensive injectors, but I've seen a few & it was plenty enough to put me off that style. Never minding the problem with versions that poke down onto the tract blocking flow which are an absolute no-no IMHO.
On the Vectra/Omega inj's they don't have caps (Siemens not Bosch) fitted Dave so I run them as per picture but I have seen the protrusion of some Bosch inj & your right it's not pretty 
good old Google to the rescue 
Just out of curiosity this is how the Siemens/Vauxhall/GM inj's are shipped 
Edited by Sardonicus on Thursday 18th April 14:41
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