blown freeze plug at 4 miles

[TCluff]

well we got the new engine up and running for the 03, everything checked out good, took the truck for a short cruise and blew one of the large freeze plugs out of the block, temp wasnt hot, all was well and then we noticed a coolant leak and coolant all over the right rear wheel, made it 4 miles to where it happened, just cruising along at 35 mph, i am not very happy right now as the twins already barely fit and are a pain in the but to take apart and reassemble, maybe the machine shop didnt install them correctly, or is it possible the thermostat stuck and caused a bunch of pressure and blew it out, but you would think it would have blown a heater core hose first, im frustrated as hell, we put a sled puller 66 on the 97 today and that was the only thing that went well, also just lost another vp-44 on the 02, i have had a rough 2 days, well at least i know my neon will take me where i need to go:{

 

[jwilliams3]

Sounds like someone did not install a freeze plug correctly. It is easy to mess up.

 

[ENafziger]

It may have been just a bad install on the plug, but have you checked out some of the coolant bypass kits that prevent excess pressure buildup?

I got mine through Enterprise Engine, but others sell them as well. Basically, you remove the rear freeze plug, bolt on a plate with hose barb, and route a coolant line up to the front of the engine. It goes through a pressure regulating valve, so you can set whatever pressure you want the coolant to bypass at, to prevent plugs from blowing.

Here's a couple pics of mine:

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--Eric

 

[Grey Wolf]

well we got the new engine up and running for the 03, everything checked out good, took the truck for a short cruise and blew one of the large freeze plugs out of the block, temp wasnt hot, all was well and then we noticed a coolant leak and coolant all over the right rear wheel, made it 4 miles to where it happened, just cruising along at 35 mph, i am not very happy right now as the twins already barely fit and are a pain in the but to take apart and reassemble, maybe the machine shop didnt install them correctly, or is it possible the thermostat stuck and caused a bunch of pressure and blew it out, but you would think it would have blown a heater core hose first, im frustrated as hell, we put a sled puller 66 on the 97 today and that was the only thing that went well, also just lost another vp-44 on the 02, i have had a rough 2 days, well at least i know my neon will take me where i need to go:{

You need to send Murphy home

 

[TCluff]

Thats no lie!!! The sled puller 66 wasn't even a smooth install! It came with an HX-40 down pipe that wasn't even the right one! It took a true 4 in. flared flange. I live in a mining town where heavy equipment and large displacement diesel engines are more common than the Honda civic yet It took the better half of the day tracking down a flanged to weld on and a stupid little band clamp to mount it up! #@$%! Luckily the kenworth dealer had a truck in the shop that a customer wasn't willing to pay for... had just the clamp we needed! Thanks to whoever the cheap guy was! :-laf

 

[Signal73]

clean up hole good with brakeclean and put some red locktite on when installing plug. Has worked for me. also make sure you have the proper freeze plug, there was a TSB or recall about plugs that were a few thousands off popping out on the eariler CR's.

 

[TCluff]

i installed a new plug and so far all is well thanks