Dropped Pen Cap Down to Oil Pan

[ECST5]

Head gasket replacement on 5VZ really not going to plan. When marking the bolts for the 90 degree torque angle part of the head install, I dropped the pen cap. Into the hole that goes all the way down to the oil pan. Stuck a boroscope down there and it looked like it was sitting on top of the oil. Drained the oil and it didn't come out. Couldn't see it anymore with boroscope through hole it went down

Turns out my drain plug got helicoided at some point and theres a stupid little tab sticking out from the helicoid that prevents me from getting the boroscope up the drain hole.

The pen cap is plastic, a little over an inch long, just under half an inch in diameter.

Anybody have ideas that are preferably not removing the oil pan? Maybe a way to cut that damn helicoid tab?

I presume if I have to remove the oil pan I can just drop it enough to get the cap and then reseal it up without having to drop diff or remove motor, but I really do not want to have to do that.

 

[subzjc]

You should be able to grab that tab with some needle nose and break it off.
It's meant to be broken off after you install a helicoil.

 

[ECST5]

You should be able to grab that tab with some needle nose and break it off.
It's meant to be broken off after you install a helicoil.

I did manage to get the tab off fiddling with my smallest needle nose pliers. Then I spent hours looking around with a boroscope unable to find the pen cap. At this point debating if I should leave the plastic piece, cause dropping that oil pan is not something I want to do.

 

[calimobber]

get the cheapest oil and fill it then drain again? maybe it will pull it out or bring it to the drain hole now that the ez tab is gone.

 

[NachesPass4x4]

I dont think it will hurt anything in there. The oil pickup has a screen on it.
I dropped the cap off a bottle of gear oil into a 304 and it eventually found it's way to the drain hole during an oil change.