Well you know those cardboard discs that they put to seal you fuel additives from leaking. Well mine flew off when I unscrewed the cap and landed right in my fuel tank. Is this going to cause major issues with my motor?  Or will it just disintegrate over time?

Fuel filter should pick that up no problem.  Just change your inline filter in a week or two and I'd pick up an extra just in case the new one clogs sometime.  

That makes me feel better. So you're saying it should disintegrate then?  But possibly get in the fuel line?  I replace the filters at the end of the year or beginning of the year anyways. 

Hopefully it won't get past or clog the pickup tube

Hopefully it won't get past or clog the pickup tube

Yeah, I have no idea what the pickup tube looks like and/or how big it is.  I couldn't imagine the sucking pressure being that much to pull it in.  I kind of imagine it kind of just sloshing around.  I'm really hoping it just turns to mush and eventually goes away.  

Id rather it stay solid.. If it turns to mush it could turn into a gum and clog everything in your motor. Stays solid? Then you just have something floating around in there lol. I mean they put them as a sealer on the taps of the additives so Im assuming petroleum products wouldnt eat that much of it away

I hear ya and thought the same thing.  It'll just bother me forever knowing that somethign is in there.  I guess I just don't think it's worth it to pay someone to open up the tank and grab it out. 

If you start having power issues or engine dieing it could have blocked the pickup tube.  I had this problem once.  I would try to get it out using a pickup tool something like this.  

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/OEM-4-prong-claw-flexible-shaft-pick-up-tool/_/N-25zu?itemIdentifier=141494_0_0_

 

If you start having power issues or engine dieing it could have blocked the pickup tube.  I had this problem once.  I would try to get it out using a pickup tool something like this.  

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/OEM-4-prong-claw-flexible-shaft-pick-up-tool/_/N-25zu?itemIdentifier=141494_0_0_

This is a great idea, but the only problem is that it's only 2 ft. long and I can't really see in my tank.  The tank isn't clear and I can only see down the input tube about 10 inches.  I think it would be like hitting the lottery if I actually was able to grab it.  

Does anyone know if I can take the silver round cap off my tank?  It looks like a silver round cap with hoses coming out of it right in the middle of my tank.  Does this disc just unscrew from the plastic tank?  If so, I could easily reach inside the tank with a tool and grab it.  Not sure how easy it would be to unscrew, if it was intended to do so.  Anyone know what that is?

I had one of those go in my tank 3 years ago. To the best of my knowledge, its still there. Never had any issues. That's a really small disk in 32 gallons of fuel. I'm not too concerned.

Well I would ideally pour the gas out (into a container to hold it obviously) and flip it upside down/use a coat hanger etc to try and fish it out.  I don't think my OCD would let me leave something like that, wondering if today was the day the cardboard pulp was going to necessitate a filter change on the water, etc.  

 

With my luck, that would totally keep me from turning in a winning fish at a tourney, etc.

 

 

(obviously if it's a fixed tank this is impossible though)

Fixed tank, unfortunately.  

I would expect the fuel pickup tube to have some type of a strainer that prevents any type of debris from being sucked up into the fuel line, or blocking it.  Have you checked with a dealer or the manufacturer?

 

This is one type.  It fits onto the pickup tube and lies on the bottom of the tank.

 

It would be awesome if it had this.  I'm stopping by my marine place this week to pick up some winterizing materials so I'm goign to ask them if it's anything I should worry about.  On a side note, if I can pop off the top of my tank to access the inside, I'd really like to do this so I'm going to ask them if this is possible.  Or if anyone else knows about popping that round metal disc off the top, let me know. 

I'm guessing you should be able to remove the unit that has the fuel pickup tube and the float device that tells your fuel gauge the fuel level in the tank.  You wouldn't have to throw the tank away in the event one of those parts fails.

UPDATE--I took out the fuel gauge tube and was able to see in.  The only thing is the hole was so small that I could only see about half the tank.  Bottom line is that I couldn't see it.  However, I did see a little bit of debris in there.  For example there were some plastic shavings in there fro when they drilled the holes for the fuel pickup lines.  This made me wonder how dirty all of our gas tanks are.  It actually made me feel a little better about this piece going in there.  

UPDATE--I took out the fuel gauge tube and was able to see in.  The only thing is the hole was so small that I could only see about half the tank.  Bottom line is that I couldn't see it.  However, I did see a little bit of debris in there.  For example there were some plastic shavings in there fro when they drilled the holes for the fuel pickup lines.  This made me wonder how dirty all of our gas tanks are.  It actually made me feel a little better about this piece going in there.  

You realize Murphy's Law will now come into effect since you messed with it. 

Haha.  I hate you.  I'll remain optimistic about the whole thing.  I feel pretty good about it.