leaky freze plug on the head

[Sundance 6g72]

ive been noticing a little drip of coolant ALWAYS collecting on the lip of the freeze plug on my front head. The one right next to the crossover.


i dont think this one would be hard to get at and replace.. it might actually be a new plug, thats my worry. Im going to call Baker Engineering and see if they would have put new plugs in or if they just happened to clean mine up. i never asked for new ones.

anyways, im sure ill have to replace this one. How should i get it out and how should i put it in? are they such a tight fit that they dont need any sealant? would it hurt to add a little bit of permatex around the edge before install?


also, could one leaky freeze plug cause the coolant system to not build pressure?

[RoadWarrior222]

Something I might try is to first identify where around the edge it is leaking, since a drip at the bottom might have run round it, then try staking it there with a punch... if it don't work, oh well, needed pulling out anyway.

[Sundance 6g72]

i guess i should watch it to make sure it indeed is leaking. im about to call baker and ask if they did put new ones in.

[Ondonti]

You are supposed to put seal around it when installed. Maybe they forgot on something they replaced.

[Sundance 6g72]

i donit think they would forget something like that.

i called Baker, TJ told me that if i wasnt charged for freeze plugs, then they shouldnt have been replaced. maybe this one just had enough. i have verified that it is leaking. it gets worse when the motor is running.. not pouring out or anything but its still a leak.

[RoadWarrior222]

Captain Hindsight says "You should have had the freeze plugs replaced then"

You're welcome

Maybe had some scale sealing it up before, got cleaned out.

You can buy universal rubber freeze plugs, but I wouldn't trust them very long, it's more an emergency, or limp it along another few months kinda thing, but you might consider one if it looks like you'll have to pull the motor to get at it otherwise, until you can schedule it.

[Sundance 6g72]

schedule what? i could probably do it today. dosnt look to hard to install. removing is what im worried about. wost case, i pull the crossover off and bam total access.

[RoadWarrior222]

Oh cool beans, thought you meant it was real hard to get at.

Removal is a highly specialised procedure requiring a 16oz hammer calibrated to +/- 0.0001 oz and a 3/16 flat screwdriver with a good solid handle. Selecting the exact center of the plug, and holding the screwdriver over it, you apply a force of accelleration to the hammer by utilising the leverage of the handle such that it gains momentum enough to strike the screwdriver and punch it through the freeze plug... and you can either lever it out like that or it will spin it sideways in the hole and you can yank it out with pliers or vicegrips...

[Ondonti]

Carquest seems to have the freeze plugs on hand unlike other places. They also only cost $1 instead of $4.

[Irocelectric93]

I blew a freeze plug out of my head once. It was actually a new one if i remember right. Yeah i went crazy and used some indian head Shellac on it and pressed it back in. never had a problem after that LOL.

[Sundance 6g72]

ive never even heard of that stuff but ill give it a shot

how do yuo guys suppose i should pull the plug out?

[RoadWarrior222]

Go down to NAPA and rent the freeze plug puller, it's only $129 a day... unless you need to rent their truck to tow it, it's on a trailer, which is an extra $29 a day.... ;-)










... or you could just like hammer something through it and lever, or are you tryna cheapskate it and save the plug? In which case, hammer something blunt on one side and try and tilt it in the hole...

[Irocelectric93]

It comes in a brown bottle. The stuff is jet black. Only problem is if you ever go to get it out i don't know how easy it would be.....

[Ondonti]

Get a new plug. I would be the first one to start banging away on the plug as RW222 said.

[Sundance 6g72]

i figured stabbing a hole in it was the only practical way unless you had the special tool for it. car quest tends to have alot of good stuff. i always forget about them when im buying things...

[Irocelectric93]

The indian head stuff is bought at Napa and apparently is actually a permatex product. I found my bottle of it. i asked my dad if he thought that the stuff would be too hard to get a freeze plug out in the future and he said "nah it'd be fine. Harder to get out but doable".

[RoadWarrior222]

Shellac is kinda oldskool, but it works for some gaskets too, and for paint on electrical tape. It's organic, so if you get something too stuck with it, apply fire.

[Ondonti]

What the heck is Shellac an what are the applications?

[RoadWarrior222]

It's the excretions of some kind of beetle ground up in a solvent... like a thick lacquer. Used to be used for electrical insulation, lacquering wood and other items, and as a sealant. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellac

[Directconnection]

ive never even heard of that stuff but ill give it a shot

how do yuo guys suppose i should pull the plug out?

Indian head is also called "aviation" sealant from permatex. it come sin a 2" high by 2" round white plastic can with a brush built into the lid. It's like tar and never dries. It's what you use for freeze plugs and other troublesome gaskets. Shat works great. You could also put some jb weld over it after for extra measures.