Been there but fortunately was able to pull the piece out with a small pick without it falling in. Was hoping on reading the title, I'd be of more help in how I was able to retrieve it.

Not sure it could melt/burn off in the intake. If was hot enough in the intake to melt plastic, I would think it would erode over time in it's stock location from that same heat.

Hopefully, someone has better news for you than my simple guess.

 

not hot enough to melt plastic or burn it. if it was inside the dpf during a regen maybe.....

 

What’s the worst possible case if I lust leave it and run the truck with it in there? The intake valves wouldn’t open up enough to let it into the cylinder correct? And even if it does get underneath one, the valves are strong enough that it would just crush it up and then the debris would just burn in the cylinder or exhaust manifold right?

 

worst possible is it damages a valve. dunno if that will happen or not. if it was mine I would be digging for it

 

Could 17 year old brittle plastic damage a valve that holds 17.5:1 compression?

 

dunno. I would think it is possible, as no matter what something is made of it will only compress so much before something doing the compressing gives.

 

I would hate to try it with that size of a piece. You’ll end up with damage. Did you remove the y-bridge and hunt for it?

 

I had just got the y-bridge back in and it was a PITA so I didn’t want to take it out again; I’ve driven maybe 100 miles or so after getting the truck all out back together and leaving the little plastic piece in the intake and I’ve had no issues whatsoever; the intake also had a lot of soot so my guess is it might caked in that and not moving too much; I’m planning on getting a one piece y-bridge to install this summer and I might pull the intake runner then and try and fish it out if it’s still in there

 

Use a shop vac. Get enough flow and you might luck out

 

good luck!!