Antifreeze tester slipped into radiator.

[MisterLogico]

I have a 90s Ford Taurus with a pretty standard looking radiator. I was testing the antifreeze with a tester like the one below. It slipped and as far as I can tell went all the way down into the radiator.

I have tried to fish it out with a bent hanger, but it's no use. I can't imagine how I would ever be able to retrieve it.

Most of it is made of soft rubber (the bulb and extending tube portion) The main body of the tester is hard plastic. Is it likely this will affect the functioning of the radiator/car in a negative way? If so, how, and what might I do to get it out?

I've searched the forum, and cannot find an answer. Any help would be very appreciated.

[drdisque]

if you drive the car with it in there, the rubber would probably melt and gum up your water pump in short order.

[hughw]

If it were me..I would pull the radiator...Shouldn't be much trouble...and dump the tester out

[mwt]

I can't remember on my 94 but if the lower radiator hose is on the same side, you might try it from the bottom. I can't remember and I don't have the car anymore.

BTW If you driveit that way something will definately happen when it is snowing or raining at night and you are a long way from home.

Mike

[MisterLogico]

drdisque, thank you. I definitely won't drive it until I get it out. Someone suggested to me that I get a grasper tool like the one below, so I'm gonna get one and see if I can get it out that way.

If that doesn't work I'll try what mwt said, and look for a lower hose..

hughw, if the above stuff doesn't work, I'll take the radiator off, although I've never done anything that major to a car before. I may have to get help. Thanks everyone for such good advice!

[denisb]

I'm not sure what your rad looks like, but if you have a big enough pipe on the top of your rad, you might be able to take it off and at least use this hole along with your radiator cap hole to make it easier to get to the tester. It would save you from taking your whole rad out and you would need to take this hose off before taking your rad out anyways.

[MisterLogico]

Originally Posted by denisb

I'm not sure what your rad looks like, but if you have a big enough pipe on the top of your rad, you might be able to take it off and at least use this hole along with your radiator cap hole to make it easier to get to the tester. It would save you from taking your whole rad out and you would need to take this hose off before taking your rad out anyways.

The pipe that the cap is on is about 5 or 6 inches long, and does not come off. It is fabricated as part of the rad from what I can see. Today I go to home depot and some other places to see if I can get a long grasper/retriever claw. I'm just worried that if the test went down to the bottom that it slipped sideways into the radiator/core? I'm not sure if that can actually happen, but if that's the case, I'll definitely have to take the whole thing off, turn it upside down, and try to rattle it out.

[creslevi]

Hi
I have read all the replies and know how frustrating it is for something like this to happen.
The fishing tool I think is the best idea, i have one and it saved my bacon on many occasions, But personally if that don't work and I think it might, but if it don't I would not worry about it, it will take along time to dissolve the hard plastic and the rubber, It is trapped in the beginning of the return side of the water going back to the engine, It can't go thru the core so it can't get to the water pump or anything else, it will just restrict the flow a little and I am sure that's not enough to cause you any problems, I think the only thing that could happen is it melt and thats very unlikely, I know you are caught between opposing well intended viewpoints, So take it for what it's worth, just for you to know where I am coming from I am 70 yrs yng and been a shadetree mechanic all my life, so suit yourself, but I wouldn't sweat it if the fishing tool doesn't work, i wish you well my friend and have ablessed Thanksgiving today.
Rick
PS
I love your illustrations what agreat idea.

[brando1985]

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