I pulled my injector rail and four injectors come out with 3 o-rings. I have pulled the intake manifold, valves on the missing o-ring cylinder are closed but still no o-ring to be found. I have to assume that it is in the cylinder but I do not want to pull the head to just to have a looksey. Anyone have some helpful ideas?

Here is what I have tried so far:
- Vacuumed the top of valves with a long thin angled attachment.
- pulled spark plug from suspect cylinder and threaded tube down on top of cylinder attached vacuum and wiggled it around to try to pick up anything down there.
- currently trying to track down a borescope.

 

Most often, they just stay in the intake plenum where the injector sits. I suspect that you have already checked that. Also take a flashlight and check around the splash guard at the bottom of the motor. It could have popped out, fallen in between the block and supercharger, and landed somewhere outside of the motor. Blast some compressed air around the front of the motor: sometimes that can send a piece flying and you'll see it. If you never find it, send us a SASE and we'll send you a couple of new gaskets free of charge.

 

Re they rubber or metal? If it is rubber its gone for good. Metal hmmm good question might be anywhere.

 

I was going to offer one from a used set of injectors, but Helix made a much better offer!

Matt

 

Thank you for the kind offer. I already have a replacement handy. I am less concerned about not having the o-ring and much more concerned with whether it ended up in the cylinder head. I did my best to scope around through the spark plug hole, but the camera was fat and so I couldn't see the whole circumference. What kind of damage am I looking at if that piece turns out to be in the cylinder and the car is started?

I am hoping that the sucker just went flying when I pulled out the injector rail or that is was sucked up in an earlier vacuuming, one in which I did not sift through the debris in the shop vac. However I can tell you that it did not drop onto the supercharger or engine shield. The whole front end is disassembled, supercharger, subframe radiator support, alternator, etc., so no place for it to go but everywhere else.

Next up, another round of vacuuming with a more flexible tube and then I give up.

 

Found a 9.5mm borescope wth 45 degree mirror and wireless monitor FTW. Scoped down through the spark plug hole and just saw dirty cylinder heads with a distinct absence of o-rings. Good enough confirmation for me to bolt down the intake manifold and pop the injectors back in after replacing the ejected o-ring. Thank you for all of the offers of help.

Back to my question about the extent of damage the o-ring would cause in the combustion chamber, wouldn't it be a minimal amount of residue from the rubber burning up or do you think that the damage would more likely be worse?

 

it would burn up and any bits left over would just get toasted on the cat.

But still, it's good to know that it's hiding OUTSIDE the engine!

Matt

 

Wholeheartedly agree that knowing it isn't in the engine is a good thing. Even if it was in the combustion chamber and did burn up without much ado, I don't think that I will make it a habit of losing o-rings to the min-cinerator.