Leaking coolant from the soft plug

[gquehrn]

I've been leaking coolant for about a month now, finally tracked it down this weekend, It looks to be coming from the 2nd to end "soft plug". Anybody know of a cure? Other than replacing the soft plug, it looks like the previous owner has replaced it once before. It's silver and rust, while the others are black, like the engine.

Some questions: Will/could this plug blow out on me while driving? How safe is this to drive until I can get it fixed?

It's never overheated on me, and the few cold nights we've had, I did plug it in.

Any help, suggestions would be a big help.

Thanks in advance.



Gordy

 

[Greenleaf]

Quite possible that the last person did not do a satisfactory repair???



Drain coolant,pull it and clean the hole really well with a wire brush mounted in the end of a die grinder. Coat with sealant and install new.



OR



Install a block heater here. It has an o ring seal. If one goes bad, you have another heater to swap cord ends with and use.



-S

 

[gquehrn]

Install a block heater here. It has an o ring seal. If one goes bad, you have another heater to swap cord ends with and use.



Sounds like the best idea to me .

Greenleaf, THANK YOU!

 

[RGT]

I had an improperly installed on blow out on me before, I've also seen an expandable rubber type that can be put in quick and work well

 

[Greenleaf]

Man!!!!... ... ..... Am I on fire here, or what!?!?

Jay, that's a rhetorical question, ok!



-S

 

[Philip]

I've also seen an expandable rubber type that can be put in quick and work well

If you use one of these be carefull on how much you tighten it. To much torque and it will blow out of the block while going down the road at full operating temps.



I have repaired quite a few installations on these items over the years.

 

[JLEONARD]

Install a block heater here.

Twin block heaters... cool!! er, I mean hot!!!

 

[Tim1]

Gordy,just my 2cents, if you change plugs,1-remove the old piece and don't let it fall into block jacket, blocks flow. 2- use brass cup type from marine dealer and use locktite on edges(blue) for a positive seal, if you have to remove it, it ill come out. Best idea is a 2nd block heater if you can get to it. Good luck. Tim

 

[WJones]

What size soft plugs does our engine use?

 

[sdstriper]

The book shows several, front and back and both sides of the block, not all shown are for our application but I'll give you what I believe to be for our engines. Corrections welcomed. Four on the passenger side measuring 58. 06mm and one on each end of the block same size. Four on the driver side behind the push rod cover measuring 1 inch, also behind that cover looks to be a different application dipstick location, expansion plug size 17. 73mm, same size front and back of block. There is also one behind the drivers side engine mount, no size indicated. And no size given for the two small dipstick tube locations on the driver side just over the oil pan bolt holes. That covers the block...

 

[KOG]

The bad news is that rarely do you have just one of the core plugs go bad. The same coolant that will corrode one of them tends to take out all of them. You probably want to remove at least one more and check for condition before you head off down the road thinking that all is well.