Oil change gone sideways

[Francopacks]

I changed the oil for the first time in my 2010 spyder RTS last weekend. It being a dry sump system and it being my first time on the Spyder, I followed the book. Drained, filled to the books spec, ran for 2 minutes, added the second amount the book suggested, then checked the level. It looked low, so I added to the full line. Afterwards I decided to read about some peoples experience with oil changes and find that in order to get the proper oil level you need to ride it to actually get the oil up to temp. Otherwise it reads low. So on Sunday (yesterday) I take the Spyder for a spin to let it get nice and warm. Get home, check the oil level and sure enough its high. No big deal, I can suck some oil out with a syringe like I have before. The syringe I have holds about 100ml and has a 6in clear pvc hose on the end to get to the bottom of the tank. I pull out 3 half syringes and was making good progress. On the 4th I pull the syringe out and no hose. Great... somehow the hose came off the end and was in the oil tank. No big deal, I have a tool for this! Its one of those grabber clamp things for grabbing dropped bolts. So I fish around in the oil tank for the hose, blind of course, with no luck. So I pull the spyder tupperware back off and drain the oil tank. I put an inspection camera down in the tank so I can see where the hose is. Well, I can't see it. Either the camera resolution is to small ( its an old Milwaukee with like a 1.5in screen), or these old eyes just can see it. I stop for the night frustrated. That brings one to today, with a hose somewhere in my oil tank. I ordered the parts to pull the oil tank out (new clamps, new filter screen, o-rings, etc).

What would you guys do? Leave it in there? Keep fishing for it? Pull the oil tank out and shake it until it comes out?

[Wmoater]

Depending on how long the hose end is I can’t see it making a turn at the bottom of the dipstick. I would assume that is hard poly plastic and wouldn’t bend. It has to be straight down and to the right. Are you sure the hose isn’t suctioned to the side and the camera is going though it? I’m guessing its 3-4 inches long can’t see it making the turn unless you physically bent it and and pushed it into the resivour with the camera or tool. It would only be on the one side. I don’t think it would be able to be pulled out bottom. Are there any chips of plastic in the oil when drained? I would not leave that in there. Got to go from the top in my opinion.

[Isopedella]

.....

On the 4th I pull the syringe out and no hose. What would you guys do? Leave it in there? Keep fishing for it? Pull the oil tank out and shake it until it comes out?

I would keep working and find it.

[2dogs]

Keep fishing. It's easier to pull it out in one piece than in a thousand little ones because they may not all make it to the filter. Wishing you bunches and bunches of good luck.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

IMHO Francopacks, it probably won't effect the engine. ... it's not possible for it to move into the engine/transmission ..... It probably won't be too difficult to remove the Reservoir .... and see if you can fish it out ...... good luck .... Mike

[2dogs]

IMHO Francopacks, it probably won't effect the engine. ... it's not possible for it to move into the engine/transmission ..... It probably won't be too difficult to remove the Reservoir .... and see if you can fish it out ...... good luck .... Mike

Would it be captured by the tranny filter before it went anywhere else?

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Would it be captured by the tranny filter before it went anywhere else?

After re-examining a parts Fiche', I don't see how the plastic tube could migrate OUT of the reservoir ... ( the reservoir is no longer sold as a part ) The OP didn't say how large or small the piece of plastic tube was, but the oil has to move thru a number of hoses, and I don't think it can happen .... JMHO .... Mike

[2dogs]

After re-examining a parts Fiche', I don't see how the plastic tube could migrate OUT of the reservoir ... ( the reservoir is no longer sold as a part ) The OP didn't say how large or small the piece of plastic tube was, but the oil has to move thru a number of hoses, and I don't think it can happen .... JMHO .... Mike

syringe I have holds about 100ml and has a 6in clear pvc hose on the end..........That's the only description. Maybe he's lucked out?

[RapidSpyder]

And I thought I was the only one stuff like that happened to….

[Bfromla]

Take a breath (or ten) clear aggravations & attempt again, unfortunately the space available to work in does not allow much flexibility, the grabber tool may have pushed further & or against side & surface tension holding it camouflaged out of site. Oil temps could possibly melt/ misshape it to clog a screen or worse. Keep trying till you reach your limits(then time for dealer),this is only your first oil change attempt, just part of the learning experience don’t strip the drain plugs with multiple removals & such.

[Little Blue]

...Well, I have thought about this 'Tube' and I would keep trying to remove it. If you can not do it, then I would let a Shop do the job. Definely Would NOT leave the Tube in place. ....

[fetermel]

I had this same thing happen to me back when I got my Spyder, which is a 2013 STS. I ended up taking the bottom oil line off so I could see in the bottom of the reservoir, I was able to see and fish the hose that hole. Good Luck.

[obiwanbill]

On my (former) 2008 SE5 GS, I did the same thing using one of those Prestone antifreeze testers with the big bulb. About a 4" tube. Tried fishing it out with no luck. Told by shop not to worry about it. Ran well for 5 years until I traded her in.

[Bensonoid]

The strainer in the bottom of the tank should be cleaned on a regular basis anyway so pull it and work from both ends to get it out.

[2dogs]

And I thought I was the only one stuff like that happened to….

You're not alone. We've all done something stupid at one time or another. Maybe a couple of times.

[Jetfixer]

My concern would be for the heat on this plastic tube. I would try everything available to fish it out. Would it be possible for you to try to use another tube attached to a strong vacuum to "grab" the wayward tube?

[Francopacks]

The hose is one of those clear pvc flexible hoses and is about 6" in length, maybe 3/8" to 1/2" in diameter.

I ordered the parts to pull out the oil tank (o-rings, New clamps, etc). My current plan is to pull it out and shake it until the hose migrates out.

The Spyder is a manual transmission, so no worries about that side pickup. I pulled that plug out to help give some more room to work.

The oil strainer, it looks like its a 29mm to pull it out?

[Francopacks]

My concern would be for the heat on this plastic tube. I would try everything available to fish it out. Would it be possible for you to try to use another tube attached to a strong vacuum to "grab" the wayward tube?

Thats my concern too. Pvc over time will harden with exposure to oil or gas unless its treated for that. I don't want little plastic chunks floating around in there...


I like the vacuum idea. Ill see if I can fangle something.

[Rooster58]

The hose is one of those clear pvc flexible hoses and is about 6" in length, maybe 3/8" to 1/2" in diameter.

I ordered the parts to pull out the oil tank (o-rings, New clamps, etc). My current plan is to pull it out and shake it until the hose migrates out.

The Spyder is a manual transmission, so no worries about that side pickup. I pulled that plug out to help give some more room to work.

The oil strainer, it looks like its a 29mm to pull it out?

Any update? You have piqued my curiosity about if you got it out or not?

[CloverHillCrawler]

The hose is one of those clear pvc flexible hoses and is about 6" in length, maybe 3/8" to 1/2" in diameter.

I ordered the parts to pull out the oil tank (o-rings, New clamps, etc). My current plan is to pull it out and shake it until the hose migrates out.

The Spyder is a manual transmission, so no worries about that side pickup. I pulled that plug out to help give some more room to work.

The oil strainer, it looks like its a 29mm to pull it out?

I saw your post about the "grabber tool" I assume you are using a retrieval tool. For the size you have you can use one of these. I bought them decades ago when I first started out as a Junior Engineer on the advice of my Senior Engineer at the time.

For the size you are describing one of these retrieval tools should work especially if the tube is standing upright in another tube on the bottom of the reservoir. They are sold in different sizes depending on your needs.

I put the level next to them for a size comparison. The metal one is flexible and capable of handling a turn in a tube.

IMG_20220809_032048189.jpg

[Peter Aawen]

Sorry guys, but I wouldn't be too sure that Franco will see these last couple of posts all that soon....

According to the date/time stamps on his posts/profile (the dtg's in my time zone, but I reckon you'll see the point! ) Franco last posted here on 2022-04-07 @ 08:27 & his last visit/activity to/on the Forum was 2022-04-07 @ 11:34 ..... sooo, he hasn't been here at all for about 4 months, which I guess means you probably shouldn't hold your breath waiting for a response.

[CloverHillCrawler]

My bad, just woke up and I forgot to read the date/time stamp to check for necro threads...

I guess the zombies are out tonight.

[Peter Aawen]

My bad, just woke up and I forgot to read the date/time stamp to check for necro threads...

I guess the zombies are out tonight.

Not all that bad, just so long as you're not hanging out for an answer.....

But I could well be wrong, maybe Franco's subscribed & is just typing up a response right now....

[bikerbillone]

Right on Franco, let's hear it, we are waiting. Perhaps he is gonna trade it in on one of those fancy 2023's?

[BajaRon]

Maybe he's still trying to fish that hose out of his reservoir! He seemed pretty focused on that. Me, I would have left it if I couldn't get it out easily. I don't think it would have made any difference at all. Though I have to admit it would have been a mental bother that never went away. It might be worth the effort just for the piece of mind.