Froze My 5.0

Swarzkopf · Nov 25, 2005

Help.

I'd been running a 70 water/30 antifreeze+ water wetter mix to keep her nice and cool. The 30% antifreeze was there just in case. The temperature around here hadn't really gone below freezing yet this year, and I figured that next weekend I'd flush and fill with straight 50/50.

Well, I got ****ed. The temperature, on a seeming fluke, went down to ****ing 12* last night. I woke up this morning and popped the hood and found my radiator frozen solid, along with the upper and lower hoses.

I started the car up, carefuly watching the temperature gauge. As the ice started to melt, I noticed a coolant leak coming from right under the engine block. As I didn't have all the time in the world this morning, I couldn't locate the source of the leak. I'm *really hoping* it's a freeze plug blown.

I let the coolant warm up and then drained it all. I let the 5.0 get as dry as I could, then I filled up the radiator with 50/50 and left for work. The car was idling smoothly as ever, so I'm really hoping I didn't **** anything up.

So here's my questions:

1. What are the chances that I cracked the block? Do the freeze plugs do their job pretty well?
2. How hard is it to replace a freeze plug? PLEASE say it's not difficult...I really don't want to get into a project in my cold driveway this time of year.

Thanks in advance for helping my dumbass. Any feedback is appreciated.

urban96 · Nov 25, 2005

you could do some serious damage the water pump if it was all frozen solid

only way to tell for sure about leaks is when it thaws out

btw i have a stock radiator (for AODE) in perfect condition if you need one

LoudToy958 · Nov 25, 2005

It could deffinetly be the water pump. You will find out soon I am sure. I doubt you cracked the block if you the car is running smooth and you aren't getting smoke. Check the oil for coolant.

Other wise, if it is a freeze plug, they are not hard to replace, but if the are in a location you can't get to with the engine in the car, it could be pretty tough.

My bet is the waterpump, or a hose overexpanded and has a whole in it.

Both those would be less than 75 bucks. Good luck, keep us posted.

Swarzkopf · Nov 25, 2005

**** me...I really am a dumbass. I didn't even think of how I could have ****ed up the waterpump.

How do you replace a freeze plug?

Thanks guys.

LoudToy958 · Nov 25, 2005

Swarzkopf said:
**** me...I really am a dumbass. I didn't even think of how I could have ****ed up the waterpump.

How do you replace a freeze plug?

Thanks guys.

First you have to get the broken one out if that is what is wrong. I usually just pop a whole in one with a puch, and use a 90* pic and flatheat to work it out. Not too hard. Then clean up the edges of the whole. There are special tools to replace them. They are called core plug replacer tools. There are three different ones.

xr8d302 · Nov 25, 2005

Just a random thing to check....I'm not sure, but I believe american cars do not come with a block heater from the factory...however, the opening on the block is still there, just sealed with a peice of threaded metal. Check to see if that's been unthreaded at all...could be the cause of you loosing coolant.

CManT1914 · Nov 25, 2005

xr8d302 said:
Just a random thing to check....I'm not sure, but I believe american cars do not come with a block heater from the factory...however, the opening on the block is still there, just sealed with a peice of threaded metal. Check to see if that's been unthreaded at all...could be the cause of you loosing coolant.

Aaron, is that what that threaded insert is (looks like a thermactor plug) on the exact opposite side of the factory oil pressure sending unit? Passenger side, lower part of the block, it's just a plug. Is that what you're talking about? I always wondered what that was there for.

xr8d302 · Nov 25, 2005

yes, i believe that is the same thing we're talking about.

Up 'ere in Canada, those factory threaded plugs are replaced with extension cords attached to heating elements to keep the engine block heated in the extreme cold.

CManT1914 · Nov 25, 2005

xr8d302 said:
yes, i believe that is the same thing we're talking about.

Up 'ere in Canada, those factory threaded plugs are replaced with extension cords attached to heating elements to keep the engine block heated in the extreme cold.

Nice! On my dad's old diesel trucks (back in the mid-90's), they all had cords on them that he could plug into a wall outlet that would keep the block warm during the winter. Or something like that, lol.

Swarzkopf · Nov 26, 2005

Well guys, it looks like I got VERY lucky!

I checked over the car today. After filling the radiator and overflow tank and letting her run for solid hour, I couldn't find any leaking coolant from the engine. I swear I saw coolant leaking from right under the oil pan on Friday...but I sure couldn't find any today.

It seems that the only casualty of my collosal stupidity is a cracked overflow tank. Everything else seems good.

Thanks for all the help and advice though.

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