DOH! Dropped metal sleeve into oil separator opening

[tlh]

After a 25 year Volvo drought (owned '69 122 & '71 145 in college) I recently purchased a 1989 245 and have begun getting to the things that have been neglected. I started with PCV system and purchased a new oil separator from IPD.

The mounting holes on the plastic separator are lined with a thin metal sleeve. I failed to notice that one of the sleeves was loose in the hole and.....yep you guessed it, as I was finagling the separator into place the sleeve dropped out of the mounting hole and I'm presuming straight into the opening that feeds into the oil pump!

In my justification to avoid dropping the pan and removing the oil pump I've convinced myself that the sleeve will eventually end up in the bottom of the oil sump and fall out when the oil is drained. Am I completely off base?

[RickHaleParker]

That does not feed the oil pump it leads to the Oil Pan Sump. The Oil pump has a strainer on it so the Oil pump won't suck it up whole.

However I would do a oil change immediately, strain the oil and make sure I recovered the sleeve. That way it will not get ground up and become highly abrasive particles.

[tlh]

Thanks for the quick reply. That's what I suspected and drained/strained the oil 3 times before starting the motor and got nothing out. With your confirmation I will start it up now and then drain it again a couple more times. Thanks again!