QTip in cylinder

[Texasbaby]

I feel like a complete idiot but when changing spark plugs I wanted to clean the top of the cylinder (like a dummy) so I grabbed the first thing I saw. Needless to say I dropped a QTip in cylinder 4 on my 2001 ford explorer sport... Please help, what should I do? Thank you for patiently dealing with my stupidity!

 

[koda2000]

pretty sure it will just burn up in there. it shouldn't really hurt anything.

 

[colintrax]

Personally, I'd get it out. Find one of those little 4 jaw grabbers on a flexible rod. And get to digging.
Burning up or not, there's still plastic and I wouldn't want that in the combustion chamber

 

[colintrax]

http://www.amazon.com/X-Long-Flex-Cable-Pick-Up-4-Finger-Retriever/dp/B006ZEOXJY

 

[Bobmbx]

Don't worry about it. Its soft, and combustible. It will not survive.

Fire it up and drive it down the highway for a minute or two. I've seen rubber gloves get sucked into an engine, never to be seen again, with no effect whatsoever.

 

[Texasbaby]

I used my vacuum cleaner!

 

[JusTheUsual]

I used my vacuum cleaner!

GF/Wife still works good? lmao sorry had to

 

[IndianaKenny]

You might try a piece of wire with a small hook bent at the end, and if you're lucky, it might hook it? You might try "bumping" the starter to move the piston up and down to get a better angle on it? Goodluck!!!

 

[Texasbaby]

GF/Wife still works good? lmao sorry had to

Lol!! Only a girl would use a QTip to clean it and then a vacuum to retrieve it!! I know, I know!! But it worked and lesson learned... Hee, hee!

 

[shucker1]

Just remember there is never any need to clean the top of the pistons.

They will just get dirty again really quick.

Good idea with the vacuum though.

 

[Flash]

http://www.amazon.com/X-Long-Flex-Cable-Pick-Up-4-Finger-Retriever/dp/B006ZEOXJY

I'm getting one of those, my hands are just too big to get anywhere.

 

[Flash]

Ok, she already got it out.

It probably wouldn't have hurt anything, I heard about how a mouse ran up a guy's arm while he was working on a carburettor with the engine running; the mouse ran straight down the carby's throat and was never seen again. No ill effects to the car.

But I wouldn't have left it in there either.
If a valve had closed on it it would have been a disaster.

 

[shucker1]

Perhaps it may not have done anything.

I've also see what a simple shop rag can do to a Race Boat engine when it gets too close to the carburetor.

That was a $10K "Aww Crap".

Chris