Dropped something in Radiator

[Fordlover96]

Alright, so I was just minding my own business and checking the coolant concentration in radiator because I had just changed the coolant recently. Then in front of my eyes, the little about 2 inch rubber hose on the end of my coolant tester fell in the radiator.....................I pretty much just had a heart attack. Now, I don't have time to take the radiator off and drain it out. Do you think that thing will be ok in there? It was just a thin little piece of tubing on the end of a coolant test. Not hard rubber, but more like a thin piece of vacuum hose.........I really don't know what to do......

 

[Irish Pride]

Get a flash light and look down in there good. If its rubber it will float. As long as you havent started the car it should be right there at the filler neck. If you can see it try to use some long needle nose pliars or maybe a coat hanger to get it out. You do not want that in you system.

Do not drive your car till you can get it out.

 

[Fordlover96]

I just tested the little hose from another tester we have sitting around and it didn't float........and i can't see it when I look down there.

 

[Phoenix]

From my point of view , this is hilarious , I usually never laugh at other people's misfortune , but this one is 1-not harmful to anything 2- The face you had when it dropped in was probably priceless.


But to get it out , I would clamp both rad hoses ,drain the rad in a bucket , get the radiator out , extract the tube. I really doubt it got out of the rad.

 

[Fordlover96]

Actually, it is kinda funny. After I cursed at the cheap tester, restarted my heart with an AED, and shit bricks (in that order.) Lol. It really is just my luck. And since I probably will have to remove the radiator anyway I actually just ordered a new radiator, since mine is leaking from the end tanks, and will be installing it this weekend. Until then......it looks like ill be driving my parents' stationwagon.....haha.

 

[Racer X]

You should keep one of these around. I have the Stanley version with an LED at the end.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GrabEasy-Grabber-and-Retriever-PF0401/202505170#.UYrQXMpYCSo

 

[rubydist]

First, that rubber hose is not going to hurt a single thing in the radiator.

Second, the only way you are going to get it out (if it does not float) is to remove the radiator and turn it upside down and hope it falls out.

That rubber hose is going to stay in the end tank of the radiator with the cap - it is too large to go through the cores to the other side, therefore it will not get into the engine or the water pump etc.

 

[Fordlover96]

Yeah, well I'm not going to drive the car until I replace the radiator this weekend. Ik that this thread was about something IN the radiator but, how hard it is to replace the radiator on an ATX? If it is I always have my service manual to guide me through it...........

 

[msteiny]

I dont think you need to pull the radiator. The lower hose is right below the neck. I would say drain it and pull the lower hose. You should be able to get it then.

 

[b1lk1]

I doubt I would even go through the trouble of trying to get it out. It really can cause no harm other than it does not belong in there.

 

[Fordlover96]

Are you guys saying you wouldn't take the radiator off because it's a real PITA? Like, do I not know what i'm getting into?

 

[Racer X]

Are you guys saying you wouldn't take the radiator off because it's a real PITA? Like, do I not know what i'm getting into?

They're saying that the tube is not going to affect anything and to not worry about it.

If you really want to get it out, use the retrieval claw I suggested, it's a lot less work than pulling the radiator.

 

[Off Road SHO]

The ATF heat exchanger that is inside the driver's side tank, might have kept it from going all the way down to the bottom, which might enable the retracto-claw to snag it. If not, don't worry about it.

Tom

 

[Fordlover96]

Update, I just pulled the lower radiator hose and it came right out..........................that and a whole bunch of sediment. I guess I'll still replace the radiator anyway. Thanks guys for all the tips and help. Your a real life saver!!!

 

[intimdatr]

Flushing the coolant system is a really good thing to do. Prevents all sorts of annoying problems from popping up.