So I was replacing the spark plugs on my 2001 Ford F150 V8 4.6L and somehow dropped a 7mm socket into the sparkplug hole without knowing...I put on the spark plug and ignition coil and tried starting up the truck. It made some rattling sound and I quickly turned off the truck. I removed the spark plug and stuck a magnet down there and picked up some metal pieces but not nearly enough to make up the socket. What do I do.

 

Pull the head to inspect the damage, but be prepared to replace the engine. It may run ok, but expect cylinder walls to be scratched, along with piston and head damage.

Or you might be really lucky for now. But it may be a ticking time-bomb.

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Probably not what you wanted to hear.

 

Yeh I got a hold of a mechanic since I won't remove the head myself and he told me he would remove the head and inspect the damage and from what a understand have the head fixed if there is substantial damage. He said he could do it all for around $350 with replacing all the gaskets and bolts and stuff. Damn

 

That is an unbelievable price!

 

Un-believably low

 

I actually thought that it was around what it cost because I also got other quotes from other people for $200 dollars to remove and put back on then the parts would cost me around $100 dollars so it would be around $300 to fix. Guess it's cheaper where I live

 

Dang I've never had that problem,-




Oops, caught another one!

Yea, I've lost plenty of 7mm's. Actually so have others, - always finding them in the block cavity under the intake...not in the cylinder thank god!

So you still can't find the socket and pulled out metal pieces from the cylinder ?

Was it socket pieces, plug pieces or valve pieces lol.

At this point, pull out what you can. The rest of it could be in your lower intake (most likely), - which won't hurt anything, - can stay in there forever. Could be in the exhaust or pieces could be laying in the head. Hell could be all the above.

Yea, pull out what you can (everything on top of the piston) and check compression. If you use a plastic encased magnet, it stick to the cylinder wall. Uknow, just a magnetic tip is exposed.

 

Yea 350 is a great price..definitely.

 

Do they know it's SOHC engine?

 

I'd stick a scope down there and make sure you don't have a hole in the top of your piston first.... That will be cheaper than $350 to pull the head and find that out..

I too have dropped a socket into the 'valley', but was able to get it with one of those "picker" tools and a flash light.

I wish you the best of luck on your deal!

Mitch

 

Just remember guys if you drop a socket, sparkplug, nut, bolt, etc. or anything metallic in the valley fish it out. It can rattle around under there and trigger a detonation condition to the ECM.

 

Specially if they get cozy with the knock sensor.

 

Here is the damage guys and gals....
The head


The head


The piston


The piston


At the end of the day I got my Duralast 7mm socket back....just wondering if the lifetime warranty on it is still good lol....

What's going happen now is that the mechanic is going to do some work on the piston to get it smoothed out and lucky me the cylinder walls were not damaged...the head on the other hand was badly damaged and is going to be taken to machine shop to see if its worth fixing or getting a whole new head, it had chips in it and what not. The valves were not damaged but was told it's best to replace them

 

This is probably the most expensive lesson I have ever learned

 

Aw that'll buff right out!