Had a WTF moment this morning. As I removed the engine cover off my V6 4R, I heard something fall. Found this tubular piece down on the floor. Dropped the front skid and backed the truck out to check the floor but didn't find anything else. I don't see anything obviously missing off the engine or cover, and the truck starts and runs normally. I do my own work, most recently an oil change, so no worries about a shop leaving anything in there.

There is the threaded opening circled in one of the pics but IIRC, that's normal (but please lmk if I'm wrong on that).

Anybody know what we're looking at?






Isn't this opening there on all V6s?





Forgive the dirty engine, it's from my trip to the 5313 Offroad Park a while back.

Engine cover.
To keep the plastic from crushing when you tighten the little acorn nuts that hold the cover on.

Damn, nice job. Yes, turns out this is a metal collar that fits into the openings through which the bolts securing the engine cover go. One was okay, the other is what fell out this morning.



I worked it back into place and added a drop of super glue to the little cracks on each one so neither of these will go wandering again.


Thanks for the quick response.