freeze plug?
 

I almost had a heart attack when I crawled under the jeep this morning and
found a little puddle of antifreeze. I couldn't spot the leak at first, then
I took it out for a short drive, came home and crawled under there looking
for it. I found a drip from one of the freeze plugs. How do I stop this
leak? Do I need to change the plug? how do I remove the old one and ensure
the new one doesn't leak?
--
_____________________
HomeBrewer
76-81-85CJ7
All in one Jeep

Re: freeze plug?
 

HomeBrewer did pass the time by typing:
> I almost had a heart attack when I crawled under the jeep this morning and
> found a little puddle of antifreeze. I couldn't spot the leak at first, then
> I took it out for a short drive, came home and crawled under there looking
> for it. I found a drip from one of the freeze plugs. How do I stop this
> leak? Do I need to change the plug? how do I remove the old one and ensure
> the new one doesn't leak?

You got it. Time to change out the casting plug (also called Welch plug).
Also time to look at the others. How's your antifreeze level and mix?

Gonna have to drain the block/radiator. Little square plug on the block
usually takes a square bit. Or you might be able to just drain the lower
radiator hose. If you wear contact lenses take them out. Antifreeze will
alter the lens chemically and could fuse it to your eye! (personal experience)

Then it's time to get that plug out. You can get a tool just place a screwdriver
up against one side and smack it with a hammer till the plug rotates in the hole,
then grab it with some vice grips and pull it out. Putting in the new one just
takes a socket about the same size as the plug and a few taps with a mallet.

Or you can spring big bucks for a silly tool.
http://www.etoolcart.com/browseprodu...--OTC4603.HTML

If you look closely you can see it's nothing more than a tool you pound on to
rotate the plug and another (similar to a socket) that you use to pound in the
new one. Nothing like springing $60 for tools you don't actually need.

Make sure the opening is clean. You can put a bit of sealant on the plug but
that's not usually necessary.

This is a good read. http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/83818/

--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://members.cox.net/wilsond
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors
Banks Header - and BEER, in the fridge!

Re: freeze plug?
 

HomeBrewer did pass the time by typing:
> I almost had a heart attack when I crawled under the jeep this morning and
> found a little puddle of antifreeze. I couldn't spot the leak at first, then
> I took it out for a short drive, came home and crawled under there looking
> for it. I found a drip from one of the freeze plugs. How do I stop this
> leak? Do I need to change the plug? how do I remove the old one and ensure
> the new one doesn't leak?

You got it. Time to change out the casting plug (also called Welch plug).
Also time to look at the others. How's your antifreeze level and mix?

Gonna have to drain the block/radiator. Little square plug on the block
usually takes a square bit. Or you might be able to just drain the lower
radiator hose. If you wear contact lenses take them out. Antifreeze will
alter the lens chemically and could fuse it to your eye! (personal experience)

Then it's time to get that plug out. You can get a tool just place a screwdriver
up against one side and smack it with a hammer till the plug rotates in the hole,
then grab it with some vice grips and pull it out. Putting in the new one just
takes a socket about the same size as the plug and a few taps with a mallet.

Or you can spring big bucks for a silly tool.
http://www.etoolcart.com/browseprodu...--OTC4603.HTML

If you look closely you can see it's nothing more than a tool you pound on to
rotate the plug and another (similar to a socket) that you use to pound in the
new one. Nothing like springing $60 for tools you don't actually need.

Make sure the opening is clean. You can put a bit of sealant on the plug but
that's not usually necessary.

This is a good read. http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/83818/

--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://members.cox.net/wilsond
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors
Banks Header - and BEER, in the fridge!

Re: freeze plug?
 

HomeBrewer did pass the time by typing:
> I almost had a heart attack when I crawled under the jeep this morning and
> found a little puddle of antifreeze. I couldn't spot the leak at first, then
> I took it out for a short drive, came home and crawled under there looking
> for it. I found a drip from one of the freeze plugs. How do I stop this
> leak? Do I need to change the plug? how do I remove the old one and ensure
> the new one doesn't leak?

You got it. Time to change out the casting plug (also called Welch plug).
Also time to look at the others. How's your antifreeze level and mix?

Gonna have to drain the block/radiator. Little square plug on the block
usually takes a square bit. Or you might be able to just drain the lower
radiator hose. If you wear contact lenses take them out. Antifreeze will
alter the lens chemically and could fuse it to your eye! (personal experience)

Then it's time to get that plug out. You can get a tool just place a screwdriver
up against one side and smack it with a hammer till the plug rotates in the hole,
then grab it with some vice grips and pull it out. Putting in the new one just
takes a socket about the same size as the plug and a few taps with a mallet.

Or you can spring big bucks for a silly tool.
http://www.etoolcart.com/browseprodu...--OTC4603.HTML

If you look closely you can see it's nothing more than a tool you pound on to
rotate the plug and another (similar to a socket) that you use to pound in the
new one. Nothing like springing $60 for tools you don't actually need.

Make sure the opening is clean. You can put a bit of sealant on the plug but
that's not usually necessary.

This is a good read. http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/83818/

--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://members.cox.net/wilsond
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors
Banks Header - and BEER, in the fridge!

Re: freeze plug?
 

Is that in the 'new' engine?

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

HomeBrewer wrote:
>
> I almost had a heart attack when I crawled under the jeep this morning and
> found a little puddle of antifreeze. I couldn't spot the leak at first, then
> I took it out for a short drive, came home and crawled under there looking
> for it. I found a drip from one of the freeze plugs. How do I stop this
> leak? Do I need to change the plug? how do I remove the old one and ensure
> the new one doesn't leak?
> --
> _____________________
> HomeBrewer
> 76-81-85CJ7
> All in one Jeep

Re: freeze plug?
 

Is that in the 'new' engine?

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

HomeBrewer wrote:
>
> I almost had a heart attack when I crawled under the jeep this morning and
> found a little puddle of antifreeze. I couldn't spot the leak at first, then
> I took it out for a short drive, came home and crawled under there looking
> for it. I found a drip from one of the freeze plugs. How do I stop this
> leak? Do I need to change the plug? how do I remove the old one and ensure
> the new one doesn't leak?
> --
> _____________________
> HomeBrewer
> 76-81-85CJ7
> All in one Jeep

Re: freeze plug?
 

Is that in the 'new' engine?

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

HomeBrewer wrote:
>
> I almost had a heart attack when I crawled under the jeep this morning and
> found a little puddle of antifreeze. I couldn't spot the leak at first, then
> I took it out for a short drive, came home and crawled under there looking
> for it. I found a drip from one of the freeze plugs. How do I stop this
> leak? Do I need to change the plug? how do I remove the old one and ensure
> the new one doesn't leak?
> --
> _____________________
> HomeBrewer
> 76-81-85CJ7
> All in one Jeep

Re: freeze plug?
 

> Is that in the 'new' engine?

Yes, that's why I'm holding my breath every time I look uder the thing,
hoping I don't find a puddle of liquid. So far, just a little antifreeze
from that one freeze plug.

--
_____________________
HomeBrewer
76-81-85CJ7
All in one Jeep

Re: freeze plug?
 

> Is that in the 'new' engine?

Yes, that's why I'm holding my breath every time I look uder the thing,
hoping I don't find a puddle of liquid. So far, just a little antifreeze
from that one freeze plug.

--
_____________________
HomeBrewer
76-81-85CJ7
All in one Jeep

Re: freeze plug?
 

> Is that in the 'new' engine?

Yes, that's why I'm holding my breath every time I look uder the thing,
hoping I don't find a puddle of liquid. So far, just a little antifreeze
from that one freeze plug.

--
_____________________
HomeBrewer
76-81-85CJ7
All in one Jeep