blew a soft plug out of engine block

[SRadke]

Their installing tool is way more complicated than mine :-laf



I'm pretty confident mine will stay in now but I'm not confident I don't still have a head gasket issue. The plug popping out may have been a symptom, not the problem.

 

[jwilliams3]

Scott,

That tool will install plugs without pulling the transmission or anything else.

 

[AndyMan]

... but I'm not confident I don't still have a head gasket issue. The plug popping out may have been a symptom, not the problem.

That's what I'm afraid of in my truck also. I've lost 4 plugs. Head gasket is high probability my case.

 

[jwilliams3]

Andyman,

Was this with your 3rd gen or 2nd gen?

 

[AndyMan]

Sorry. I should quantify. 2nd Gen. Never had a problem with the 2003 ('cept that UNHOLY death wobble mess). I'm merely following this and contributing, b/c it appears that Scott and I both appear to be building excessive pressure in the cooling system.

 

[jwilliams3]

I don't think this is all a pressure based problem.

There are some other things going on here like block twist, hole size, plug size, rapid temperature changes etc.

Also, through some mid to high rpms under load in the mix...

This all happens very quickly and under a good to severe load and the good ole' plug decides to check out...

 

[SRadke]

I borrowed a tool today from a mech friend that tests the gasses in the radiator for combustion gasses. It came up negative. I'll run it and keep an eye on it but it's looking promising. It's easy to do Andy, I suggest it if you're suspicious.



As for the tool..... I'll drop the transmission. It may take alittle longer but I don't have to stand on my head and I can actually SEE that the plug is in where I want it and I KNOW that the hole was cleaed properly so the loctite will stick. That's my opinon.



-Scott

 

[jwilliams3]

Yeah cleaning and loctite are great.



The tool/jig thingy will let you install the plug perfectly (depth, level etc. )with no room for human error or the like.



Its not loctite keeping the plug in there. The loctite is a helper and a seal for the coolant.



PS: it looks like you did a great job

 

[MontyDyer]

Dont feel bad. Mercedes is doing a campaign on all of there MB4000 12ltr diesels in class 8 trucks. The same thing is happening to them, except they use cup plugs at the ends of the oil galley and they are coming out when the engine is cold and oil pressure is high. I dont know if it would work for you guys, but there fix is to install a new cup plug and a bracket that bolts to the side of the block and extends around to the cup plug. Sort of like a tab that bolts in front of the plug. The tab has a slot cut into the end to inject a fast cure epoxy between the tab and the cup plug making the cup plug and the tab one piece to permenantly eliminate the problem.

 

[AStutz]

i think your right about the plug blowing out cause of rapid temp change the day mine blew my engine wasnt up to temp yet and i was gettin into it pretty hard. i put the new oversized plug in with a little loctite then drilled out a peice of aluminum plate and bolted it on behind using those taped holes in the block to hold against the plug i havent had a prob since and that was about 10 thousand miles ago. and i havent been taking it easy on it lol

 

[Tomeygun]

The dealer could not find the info because it was not a TSB or recall, but an RRT (kind of a fast fix on a limited number of vehicles). The RRT's are not saved on DealerConnect. I must have saved a copy when they sent it out and it has a photo of the installing tool. It also said the stock of Mopar plugs were being changed to the larger plugs, so there was no special part number listed.

So where can one find that fancy installing tool? I think I have permanent spot for it

 

[Old Man]

Tomeygun, did you find a part number for the installation tool. TIA.

 

[KevinO]

i tried to install that water transfer connection and did not fit my block cummins engineers swear up and down that it fits but the bolt holes i see are 7 13/16" apart and the part holes are 6 5/8" just not sure how to get the steel piece to stretch and fit like they say it will. :-laf

 

[therabbittree]

the pulling trucks have this probelm from the waterpump pushing too much water they clip some of the fins off the waterpump impeller to lower the pressure. . hailey's and enterprise have a kit to keep the pressure lower... check it out in the comp forums. .

Thanks

Deo