Metal Chip In Transmission

[V1]

Yesterday, a friend and I replaced the clutch in my Mazda6. While the transmission was off the car, we replaced the axle seals. In doing that, I accidentally grabbed the lip of the transmission housing with the seal puller. It broke off a 2mmX3mm chip of aluminum. That piece fell into the little drain hole in the bottom lip of the axle opening. I'm not sure where the little hole leads to, but it's down there.

Nothing can be done about it now, but I'm curious as to what might happen if that little piece of aluminum finds its way to the gears or synchros?

 

[Johnny]

If it finds its way to the gears or synchros, you will be pulling the transmission for some major repairs.

 

[Papa Bear]

Reminds me of that song ....

"slip slidin' away, slip slidin' AAawwwwaaayyyyy"

 

[V1]

Seriously? I was hoping that since it's aluminum that the gears, being a harder metal, would just eat it up. What do I know? That's why I asked.

I'm not sure where the little hole on the inside lip leads to, but I'm guessing that it drains transmission fluid back to the bottom of the housing. Any truth in that?

 

[mechtech2]

You gotta get it out of there.
Really.
Maybe flushing with something cheap [not expensive gear oil] will get it out.
I would not run the car.

 

[V1]

That's pretty much impossible, if you ask me. How would I ever verify that it came out or not? Just doesn't seem feasible without tearing my car apart all over again. A guy at a local trans shop tells me it will not harm the transmsission.

What would help to know is if that little hole it went in is indeed a drain hole, or just a recession. Is it typical for a manual transaxle to have a drain just outside the axle spline?

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Reminds me of that song ....

"slip slidin' away, slip slidin' AAawwwwaaayyyyy"


Slipping like that mind, eh?

 

[V1]

Yeah, he's a funny guy isn't he.

 

[V1]

Today I brought my car to a transmission shop - mainly to get a new CV Boot - and I asked the shop owner about this whole situation while I was there. He told me that I have no need to worry because the transmission would grind the aluminum fragment into nothing if it hadn't already. The transmission would undoubtedly win the fight according to him.

That was good news for me. Just thought I'd pass it along.