Just want to say I hate this plastic piece

[Number4]

I didn't realize this was serviceable until I opened my oil pan gasket set. Once I started to remove it, I wished I'd just left it.

 

[Number4]

I used three types of picks, vise grips, heat gun, throttle body cleaner (acetoneish) and a lot of telling the thing it was stupid. Again, glad I invested in a stand up HF air compressor to help blow out crap.


On a side note, any other Elites have the issue with only being able to load one image per post via mobile? I have an iPhone.

 

[natenkiki2004]

I took mine out and both of the wedge-shaped ends snapped off. One side had enough to grab with a pair of needle-nose pliers. The other side snapped clean off. Quick & easy trick was to heat a drill bit up and then stick it into the wedge. Let it cool and it came right out like butter. I think I sprayed the wedge holes out with carb cleaner and re-assembled.

I still have no idea what it's purpose is and am wondering if it's a cause of a slow oil leak I have in that area. That or I buggered up the rear main seal somehow. Oh well, they're both hard to get perfect.