I need some advice quick! I have to have this job done by Monday and I am kind of at a loss for what to do.

I was removing the spark plugs on my 2006 f-150 5.4L and of course one breaks... Well it was the very back plug on the right side (looking at the truck from the front) anyway I used the puller system and was able to remove the spark plug but when I got it out I noticed that the aluminum end was missing. Basically where the aluminum bridges up and over the probe, that piece is missing. It's very small, I would say maybe 2-3/8th of an inch....

I tried the following:
1) magnet (was trying everything but since the part is aluminum that didn't work)
2) sticky tape, I used tape on the end of a magnet but couldn't get it small enough to fit in the spark plug hole...
3) blew air down in the cylinder (this might have worked, but it didn't notice anything flying out)
4) I put a home vaccume down to it and I feel like I got really good suction but didn't hear anything rattle it's way up (it might have been impossible to hear, but in don't know for certain it's out ether)

The last thing I am thinking about trying is getting all the other plugs replaced (they are all already pulled) and booking them up, but leaving one cylinder open (no spark plug) and running it for a minute or two and try and blow the little bit out that way.

The other thought is what do I risk realistically if the little bit stays down there, I put the plug in and fire it up? Would the bit blow out the exhaust because it so small? Or could it just rattle around in there doing damage foreve and I risk the piston or block or head or valves?

Anyway I need advice on what to do, let me know if running it without a plug is a good way to insure nothing is down there, or if I am making a big deal out of nothing.

Thanks in advance!!!!!

 

Mine looked the same, it really just breaks in half as the ceramic is being pushed down. If anything is in there, Put some vent hose on the end of a shop vac like you did, After that crank it up for about 3 seconds and let it blow whatever is in there out. What i did 20k miles ago, Should be fine

 

Thanks for the advice! glad to know you had same issue and fixed it. I'll try and rig up a suction method that will get down in there better and the. Let it just run for a few second. Someone suggested a camera as well, so hopefully between everything I'll get this figured out.

Thanks again!

 

I put a small piece of rubber hose on the end of my shop vac flat nozzle, taped up the air gaps and it worked like a champ!

 

Same here, that flexible wire tube from advanced auto parts works well with some electrical tape