What happens if you have a freeze plug leak?
If you don’t have adequate freeze protection the freezing water in your cooling jacket can exert over 100,000 PSI on your engine block which is more than enough to crack cast iron or aluminum. A cracked block makes your engine just about useless as they are extremely difficult to repair.
Why is the freeze plug on my car bad?
When the coolant freezes, it will expand within the engine block, cracking it and destroying the motor. After that happens, the coolant/water will leak and trickle down the engine, further damaging the engine block. However, this isn’t the only reason freeze plugs get bad. There are other reasons.
Can a bad freeze plug cause exhaust smoke?
White exhaust smoke could also be a symptom of a blown freeze plug. The engine constantly overheating is probably a sign that most of the coolant in the engine has leaked.
Can a freeze plug get out of an engine block?
First of all, even a leaking freeze plug is very difficult to get out of your engine block due to the tight seal. The freeze plug will probably need to be drilled or cut out which can damage your engine block if you’re not careful. Once you get the old one out your need to pound the new one in.
Why does my freeze plug leak on my car?
Having a freeze plug leak is pretty rare on cars today. That’s because there is no movement of your freeze plugs and they are a metal seal rather than a rubber gasket or o-ring. When an engine is built the freeze plugs are hammered into the plug and as they slide in the metal bends conforming to the freeze plug hole creating a really good seal.
What should I do if my freeze plug is leaking?
When a leaking freeze plug is found, the engine should be checked for damage and antifreeze checked for the proper mixture and freezing point. However, freeze plugs can also start to leak over time simply due to the heating and cooling cycles of driving your car.
Can you drive with a bad freeze plug?
If you have no other option, you may be able to drive with a bad freeze plug. Freeze plugs rarely fall out or fail completely so they cause slow leaks. As long as you keep your engine coolant full and your engine never gets hot, you could limp your car along with a leaking freeze plug although we never recommend it.
White exhaust smoke could also be a symptom of a blown freeze plug. The engine constantly overheating is probably a sign that most of the coolant in the engine has leaked.