Straw fell off oil sucking hose

[RockinRick]

I changed my oil on my sailboat ⛵ today and the intake hose from my 12vt pump was curling up so bad I could not get it down into the oil to start sucking. I got this genius idea to tape a hard straight straw onto the hose. Pushed it down and got all the oil out. When I pulled the hose back out, I started to cry because the straw was not on the hose. It fell off and is in the oil resevour. I know I am in trouble here. Can anyone suggest how to fish it out? Will it destroy my engine if I try to run it? So sad 🥺

[RockinRick]

I purchased a flexible drain reacher grabber... Wish me luck.

[Spot]

All the best Rick!
I did that once with a fuel siphon tube. Never did get it out of the tank...Now I am more inclined to use something that won't fall in/down the hole like a long piece of brake line.

[RockinRick]

Would it destroy my engine if I left it in there)

[Spot]

Originally Posted by RockinRick

Would it destroy my engine if I left it in there)

Sorry, I cannot say for certain, maybe someone else can. Which engine?

[chrisr]

more info please : when you say 'straw' do you mean a plastic drinking straw sort of thing, or a piece of straw like out of a straw broom thing ?

what is the material of the 'straw' ?

i'm thinking it has the potential to block oil flow somewhere, with likely negative outcome

however there are others here with far greater mechanical knowledge than me

cheers,

[RockinRick]

Plastic drinking straw with some blue tape on the end. I actually changed oil three times like this with no problems. Guess I should have retaped a new straw.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by RockinRick

Plastic drinking straw with some blue tape on the end. I actually changed oil three times like this with no problems. Guess I should have retaped a new straw.

hmmm...likely worst scenario. plastic isn't going to dissolve

i'd be seeking professional help, and in meantime watching oil pressure & temp very very closely

cheers,

[team karst]

Put a exact duplicate of this straw in a pot of boiling water. Report your findings.

[Compass790]

Originally Posted by RockinRick

I changed my oil on my sailboat ⛵ today and the intake hose from my 12vt pump was curling up so bad I could not get it down into the oil to start sucking. I got this genius idea to tape a hard straight straw onto the hose. Pushed it down and got all the oil out. When I pulled the hose back out, I started to cry because the straw was not on the hose. It fell off and is in the oil resevour. I know I am in trouble here. Can anyone suggest how to fish it out? Will it destroy my engine if I try to run it? So sad ��

what engine?
seen some amazing stuff in sumps that engines have run with for years I'd assume. If the pickup tube has a strainer on it I wouldnt give a plastic straw a second thought, it's unlikely to bugger yr engine. In fact I think an oil pump would chew it up ok & then the oil filter would catch it if it could travel thru the pickup tube. I'd watch oil pressure for a while then have a beer.

[MBWhite]

Dont worry about it, you'll be fine. Anything that falls in the sump either floats on the top or sinks to the bottom. What you can go is solder a treble hook to a piece of coathanger or stiff wire and fish that around in the oil pan if you take the drain plug out sometime, I'd just wait for the next oil change. Actually, I'd just forget about it which works just as well.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by RockinRick

Would it destroy my engine if I left it in there)

Very unlikely.
If you've got a plug on the engine, you can try to spot it, and fetch.
Even if it chewed it up, don't think it'll clog anything, as there is a screen on the oil pick up.
SV Cloud Duster

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by chrisr

hmmm...likely worst scenario. plastic isn't going to dissolve

Plastic's made from oil. Very likely will melt or dissolve. I'd worry it would gunk up the filter. I wouldn't run the engine until it was removed.

[Jim Cate]

Very likely will melt or dissolve.

Yep, just like the plastic jugs that the oil came in...

Likely not a worry IMO!

Jim

[Brewgyver]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

Plastic's made from oil. Very likely will melt or dissolve. I'd worry it would gunk up the filter. I wouldn't run the engine until it was removed.

Melt or dissolve???

Unless you're buying your motor oil in a 55 gallon drum, the container is plastic. Oil WON'T dissolve plastic, neither will most other liquids, including acids and most solvents. Some U.S. states and localities have passed laws forcing food vendors to provide paper straws because the plastic straws live forever.