Topic: Freeze Plug Inspection: Need How TO! -- Got It!

[CTENG in KS]

My engine thread has brought up a seperate question that needs to be addressed.  Before I get into going nuts over the head and replacing/rebuilding the entire top end, is there a good way to inspect freeze plugs in the block to tell if they are leaking?  Also, can freeze plugs be removed and replaced at home, or do you need to pull the engine and bring it to a machine shop?

Please help!
Thanks!

[abnormaltoy]

My engine thread has brought up a seperate question that needs to be addressed.  Before I get into going nuts over the head and replacing/rebuilding the entire top end, is there a good way to inspect freeze plugs in the block to tell if they are leaking?  Also, can freeze plugs be removed and replaced at home, or do you need to pull the engine and bring it to a machine shop?

Please help!
Thanks!

You can see all but one plug, I'm presuming you have a 22r/e. If there is a leak you should be able to see some type of build up around the area. The inaccessible plug  is on the rear end of the block.

[CTENG in KS [OP]]

The leaking is not on the erar of the block...it appears to be worst under the intake manifold.

[jimbo74]

have you thought about a loose intake manifold?

as far as the freeze plugs and testing them, get a pressurizer and pressurise the cooling system to a few pounds above what it normally should get, if there is a leak it will shoot out fluid

[CTENG in KS [OP]]

I just reinstalled the manifold, trust me, it aint loose.  I am gonna go have a look in a little bit.

[79coyotefrg]

if its a R engine  there is that water port between the intake runners for #2 and #3 

i had a leak on that little pipe that drove me nuts for awhile

besides that,  use a very small flat screwdriver and kinda poke at the freeze plug if it feels soft
but just pull it out with a heal bar or something and tap some new ones in,  the worst case you would have to pull the intake  but not the engine

[Rocksurfer]

I'm with Glen, now that you've said where the steam is cominig from it very well could be the tube that runs from the back of the water pump housing to the rear of the block on the outside just below the manifold. I had a pin hole leak on my 84 in the tube that drove me nuts.

[CTENG in KS [OP]]

I had put this in the other thread...this is where it is dripping...I am going to tighten the screws there, put a better hose clamp on it and run the engine again and see if I can get a look at what is going on...the freeze plug looks pretty dry so I don't think that is the problem.  Any other thoughts?

[Rocksurfer]

Try anything and everything, looks wet behind the pump, so you might check for leaks there. You might want to replace all your hoses and hose clamps while your at it.

[CTENG in KS [OP]]

Does anybody make a replacement kit for all the hoses?  Some I replaced but I wouldn't mind getting a full set of those poly hoses or something.  I am stopping to get a plethora of hose clamps on my way home today.

[Rocksurfer]

Does anybody make a replacement kit for all the hoses?  Some I replaced but I wouldn't mind getting a full set of those poly hoses or something.  I am stopping to get a plethora of hose clamps on my way home today.

I've been down that road some are tough to find, quickest source is, um, you know, Toyota. Bring your 1st born and get ready for

[8D3TOY]

I have the same issue with the steam and a pinhole in the tube kinda fits the way the steam was shooting out, so how do you fix it? JB Weld,braze it,buy new?  I have found some places that sell brass freeze plugs and was about to order when I started reading this thread.  Again good info that is very helpful,thanks guys.

[CTENG in KS [OP]]

I don't know what I have so far...I am gonna experiment with a few things in just a bit, I will let you all know how it goes.

[CTENG in KS [OP]]

I figured it out...
I pulled the thermostat to keep from building up pressure in the system, put new clamps on the hoses I felt needed them, then fired her up.  Took a couple turns around the lot and sure enough, I cut the engine in the garage to be greeted by hissing and steam.  I'm looking all over thinking catastrophe, but when the steam finally calms down I pinpoint the culprit.  There is a hose...one end clamps under the throttle position sensor, the other a bit further aft into the intake plenum.  The clamp on the plenum end must have gotten knocked loose when I was reinstalling other hoses and it it is now dripping coolant onto the hot intake runners.  Should be an easy fix tomorrow after I let everything cool down.

On another note, previously I was having a devil of a time getting the timing and idle right on the engine...too high idle, I'd adjust, it wanted to stall.  Then today I just could NOT get the thing jumped.  Finally ran it down to a bad connection on the POS battery terminal.  Now she is idling right along with all here happy valve tap.  So, just a reminder for those having engine gremlins...don't forget to clean up all your electrical connections every once in a while, especially if you are like like me and enjoy frequently spraying your engine compartment with oil and coolant!

Now back to your regularly sheduled program.

[8D3TOY]

I was able to spend a few min. under my Toyota today and filled up the rad fired and watched from below, coolant began dripping onto the oil filter from the hoses above, its just so hard to see up there.  It appears to be coming from the same area circled in red by CTENG so I am actually relieved its not a HG or freeze plug. Hopefully I can get it going again soon I've been driving my F350 dropping some serious coin on gas,miss my Toyota.

[CTENG in KS [OP]]

Yeah, I stoped that first leak, found another hose leaking...all my old hose clamps are crap, once I broke the hoses loose they just don't have all that baked on gunk to keep em sealed.  I am slowly replacing all the hose clamps as I locate the leaks.