How do you replace an engine freeze plug?

How do you replace an engine freeze plug?

How to Replace Freeze Plugs in Engines

1. Drain the antifreeze from your car so it doesn’t spill on the ground when you remove the freeze plug.
2. Remove the parts blocking your way to the freeze plugs.
3. Break the freeze plug free.
4. Remove the freeze plug.
5. Clean the hole that the freeze plug came out of.

How hard is it to replace freeze plugs?

Replacing freeze plugs is not hard, but getting to them can be really tough with the engine in the vehicle. If you can’t get the plug replaced in the car, then you may need to visit your local NAPA AutoCare Center for assistance.

Can you drive with a bad freeze plug?

Yes, you can drive with a bad freeze plug. The engine will run, but the coolant level will below. This will make running the car harder and harder. Running an engine with a coolant level constantly running low could lead to engine failure.

How much does it cost to fix freeze plugs?

Researching online, an easy to reach freeze plug could cost anywhere from $200 to $400, whereas a freeze plug that requires the mechanic to lift the engine or transmission out can cost anywhere from $900 to more than $1,800.

How do I know if I have a bad freeze plug?

If you have water or coolant leaking from the side of your engine or between the engine & transmission, you most likely have a bad freeze plug. Sometimes the hole in the freeze plug is very small, and can periodically be blocked by debris from the cooling system.

What happens if freeze plug goes?

Yes, the engine will run but will have a coolant leak. A freeze plug is a thin metal cap pressed into and engine blocks coolant passage. The engine will still run as long as the coolant level is topped up. Since a freeze plug is the lowest point of the engine, the coolant would likely leak out very quickly.

Can freeze plug be repaired?

A freeze plug that needs repair will be leaking coolant, and will need to either be resealed or replaced, depending on how bad the damage is. Freeze plug replacement can be performed without hiring an auto mechanic, but requires proficiency with auto parts and the tools used with them.

How does a freeze plug work?

Freeze plugs typically fail by freezing. If the coolant inside an engine freezes, it may cause the block to crack. Water expands as it freezes, and the pressure created by this expansion can cause cracks to form. Freeze plugs prevent this from happening by allowing the frozen water to expand out the plugs’ passages.

Where is a freeze plug located?

You will find most of the freeze plugs on the side of the engine block – through one or two maybe hidden between the transmission and engine block. The later may require you to have a mechanic nearby because you will be required to dismantle the transmission to reach them.

Do I need to replace freeze plugs?

I’d recommend doing it every three years or 60,000 miles – given the cost of the consequences. Tom: If you don’t have good rust inhibitors, rust will attack the weakest link in the engine block. That’s the freeze plugs – which are designed to give way if the engine freezes, preventing your block from cracking.

Should I replace freeze plugs?

These are designed to hold the pressure of the cooling system, but to pop out if the coolant in the block ever freezes. If the one’s you currently have, are not made out of brass, I would replace them as they will rust out and become a problem in the summer time.