The alternate title for this could be, "I'm an idiot, volume 63."
I dropped a small rubber plug into the oil pan of the engine I just assembled. I was putting it into the hole where the dipstick enters the pan, (to keep dirt out), and it was too small and fell in.
It's in the pan and would not be able to get past the screen on the sump to get sucked into the veins of the engine while running. The worst thing I can envision is it getting stuck in the screen, due to the small hood over it, and blocking a very small percentage of oil intake to sump. Hopefully, it will come out w an oil change in the future. I can't get it out by removing the drain plug and hitting the pan w a rubber mallet, I tried.
Of course, I could remove the oil pan and retrieve it but that is no small job because it's glued on w very high strength chemical adhesive and it would be several hours of removing the old sealant before reinstalling. Trust me on this.
Is there any reason to worry about it in there? Give me your expert opinions. Here are some pics, including a twin to the offending item:
It went in this hole:
