Embarrassing & Clumsy

[FFarndon]

I did a dumb trick that will require the expertise of the TDR members to let me know how serious (or not) it was. I purchased an antifreeze checker at the parts store, you know the little ones that have a small rubber hose on the bottom and a 1/2 inch class tube with little coloured floating balls in the tube and a rubber bulb deal on top that you squeeze to get a sample of your anit freeze out of the radiator. I dropped the darn thing in the radiator and it sunk and I did not know how to get it back. Can go anywhere to cause me grief ?? 2004 Dodge 3500 Cummins HO and 48RE auto trans. I have continued to drive my truck and it seems ok so far.

 

[jelag]

I can't imagine this would go anyplace where it might give you problems.... the radiator is a cross flow... so its trapped in the tank where you dropped it... maybe a 3 finger pick up tool and a good flash light might get deep enough to grab it.... I can't see where it would in anywhere to cause a problem.... as I remember the cap is on the take that carries coolant to the engine with the hose at the bottom... so you might pull that hose and see if its sitting there..

 

[mwilson]

Go fishing as Jelag says. The three fingered grabby tool should get it.

I don't believe that it can go anywhere other than the bottom of the side tank.

Mike.

 

[Tuesdak]

Hopefully it is still stuck in the radiator. You dropped it on the 'suction' side with a direct hose to the water pump. I would try the above to get it out. Then drain the radiator of coolant and try again. Least you could see it and maybe it would come out with a lower radiator hose removal. It may be hung up in the tank by the trans oil cooler. High coolant flow with high RPM could move it through the water pump. If not now later when it falls/rots apart it may move through the system. Who knows if it would damage the water pump and surrounding things or not while being chopped up. Then the remaining small parts could plug passages like the steam vent in the thermostat. Maybe even jam the t-stat open.

I would go as far as pulling the radiator and having a shop remove the tank if I could see it but not get it out due to the trans cooler.

IMO the worst thing is running the engine with a known foreign object in any of the systems. The unknown ones are bad enough esp. ones you have to blame yourself for. Been there rebuilt an engine over that...

Their are other antifreeze checkers that are too big to fall in... Tie a rope to it next time

 

[BIGNASTY]

Bring your truck to my house and sign the Pink over to me I know that I can get it out if it were MINE!!!

 

[FFarndon]

Thanks for all the replys, radiator is coming out.

 

[Tuesdak]

Did you get a eyeball on it?