05 Sport Trac XLT Water jackets

[villen25]

Hey, is there anyplace that i can get water jackets for my truck without having to rebuild or replace the head? It has a slight leak and don't want to have to spend all the extra money if there is anyway for me to avoid it.

thanks

 

[ncranchero]

There are water jacket repair kits. They are usually stocked next to the muffler bearings and the blinker fluid.

 

[villen25]

There are water jacket repair kits. They are usually stocked next to the muffler bearings and the blinker fluid.

do they have a other name than water jackets?

thnx

 

[Flounder]

Err, wait. Can you describe a little more what you're looking for? Or a picture with an arrow?

 

[ncranchero]

Yeah, I'm being a smart-azz. Water jackets are internal to the engine. A photo would be very helpful.

 

[villen25]

Err, wait. Can you describe a little more what you're looking for? Or a picture with an arrow?

the little circles that you can see on the sides of the cylinder head... you can see them on each side if you look at the engine through the front tire areas. it has couple of them on each side of the engine

 

[600remguy]

Core plugs, I'm guessing. Could possibly be swapped out if there is room to work. I'd have to look.

 

[villen25]

Core plugs, I'm guessing. Could possibly be swapped out if there is room to work. I'd have to look.

so they're core plugs? what are water jackets then? because the mechanic told me water jackets and pointed it out to me. one of them has water leaking slowly from it.

thanks

 

[600remguy]

The water jacket is the void in the casting where the water flows for cooling. The core plugs seal the jacket at machining points, etc. Also called freeze plugs. They are suppose to pop out rather than breaking the casting under a freezing condition, but it rarely turns out that way. There are a few youtube videos showing large plug changes, but not the small ones. Are you running straight water in your engine?

 

[villen25]

The water jacket is the void in the casting where the water flows for cooling. The core plugs seal the jacket at machining points, etc. Also called freeze plugs. They are suppose to pop out rather than breaking the casting under a freezing condition, but it rarely turns out that way. There are a few youtube videos showing large plug changes, but not the small ones. Are you running straight water in your engine?

at the moment im running water since it'll keep leaking out the coolant. I guess that's why ford told me i could not buy water jackets and had to send the head to machine. I try to minimize my driving and speed.

 

[ncranchero]

Do you see the leaking part in these photos?

 

[villen25]

Hey... here's the actual pic of the part..

 

[600remguy]

Is that not a full size main core plug on the block itself? Looks like it might be doable if you can get straight on it. Once again I'll have to look. Mine is 130 feet below me so its sorta a chore. But only for 125 more days!

 

[Chronicrage]

Believe thats being called an "expansion plug" by auto parts shop these days..should be easy to replace, and cheap..probably about $2-5 depending on if you go rubberized, stainless, or brass

 

[ncranchero]

Yep, you lucked out with it being so accessible. It's in the BLOCK ,not the head. The quick fix would be a rubber expansion plug, the permanent would be another steel plug.

Expansion plug, freeze plug, core plug, all the same thing. That is the "cup' type, as opposed to the "disc" type.

 

[villen25]

ok, thanks everyone... now that i know the official name I will try to get one today... thanks

 

[Fredness]

"Freeze Plug" or, more appropriately, "Core Plug".
If you live in a cold climate, you can "upgrade" to a block heater, or just replace it.
I ALWAYS use BRASS, since it won't corrode. I also like to use sealant and pin them in place, pinning is optional if you aren't pulling the engine.