Coolant leak 96 5.0

[Turdle]

Because your tools are limited.

Try a bottle of "k seal hd"

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCBST5516?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google&cid=paidsearch_conversions_pmax_napa_google_chemicals&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIopKAjtaiiAMVtzgIBR1bTQWlEAQYAyABEgIl7PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If you can't find it, 2 bottles of k seal at Walmart




Be sure to drain out more coolant than is in the bottle first, follow instructions on label. Make sure heater is turned off, ac running cold to keep it out of the heater core.Shake it up real good before use.

If it doesn't work, get money back and attack.

 

[jakebooher91]

That is a freeze plug , and, they do leak.

Getting it out, and, another back in is going to be a challenge. It comes out like a very tight paint can lid.

Appreciate it man you’ve been so much help. I see they make a freeze plug removal tool I would imagine I’d need that so I’m gonna go grab one of those and see what I can do.

 

[jakebooher91]

Because your tools are limited.

Try a bottle of "k seal hd"

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCBST5516?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google&cid=paidsearch_conversions_pmax_napa_google_chemicals&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIopKAjtaiiAMVtzgIBR1bTQWlEAQYAyABEgIl7PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If you can't find it, 2 bottles of k seal at Walmart




Be sure to drain out more coolant than is in the bottle first, follow instructions on label. Make sure heater is turned off, ac running cold to keep it out of the heater core.Shake it up real good before use.

I also do have a bottle of k-seal, I was kind of keeping it as a last resort. Would you recommend using it or just fixing the issue? If I can do it with limited tools I will, and if I need to buy a thing or two it’s not the biggest deal in the world as long as I’m keeping it relatively inexpensive

 

[Turdle]

You might find a rubber replacement plug. It slides right in, then, diameter increases as you tighten a center bolt.
A solid plug will need to be driven on completely straight on, with a hammer and flat bushing driver tool. Can you make room for this to happen?

Placing plug in the freezer for at least half hour will shrink it, and may allow it to slide in to cleaned surface further. Then get the largest socket you have, place it on plug and tap in with a hammer.

I'd do k seal first. I've seen it seal leaks larger than that

 

[jakebooher91]

You might find a rubber replacement plug. It slides right in, then, diameter increases as you tighten a center bolt.
A solid plug will need to be driven on completely straight on, with a hammer and flat bushing driver tool. Can you make room for this to happen?

Placing plug in the freezer for at least half hour will shrink it, and may allow it to slide in to cleaned surface further. Then get the largest socket you have, place it on plug and tap in with a hammer.

I'd do k seal first. I've seen it seal leaks larger than that

It’s hard to say, me and my buddy have been working on it and he has a little more mechanical background than me, he says we could possibly make room. So from what you’re saying it would make the most sense to just try k-seal first to see if it fixes it and if not then try to replace the freeze plug. Is there any potential danger to using k-seal?

 

[Turdle]

Not really. As I understand it, it's activated by the air, pressure and heat loss at the leak. Should be inert while circulating.

 

[jakebooher91]

Not really. As I understand it, it's activated by the air, pressure and heat loss at the leak. Should be inert while circulating.

Okay cool I’ll give it a shot, gonna go grab another bottle of k-seal and see what happens. I’ve seen on the directions you can leave it in the system with the coolant or you can put it in with water and drain it after the leak is stopped. What would you recommend?

 

[Turdle]

Leave it. You are in Arizona, but you'll still need some anti freeze for water pump lubrication, anti corrosion. If the k seal works, drain enough fix coolant to fit a gallon of straight , mix with water, not pre mixed, anti freeze. You'll cool better

Hope this works. Let us know

 

[jakebooher91]

Leave it. You are in Arizona, but you'll still need some anti freeze for water pump lubrication, anti corrosion. If the k seal works, drain enough fix coolant to fit a gallon of straight , mix with water, not pre mixed, anti freeze. You'll cool better

Hope this works. Let us know

Okay and I’ll be in Pennsylvania for the winter so will definitely need antifreeze for that as well. I’m gonna give it a go in a few minutes and will let you know how it goes.

 

[410Fortune]

Lucky it looks like one of the plugs that can be done in the truck… not easily but can be done
You are going to want the area clean
To get the old plug out often I will use self taping metal screws and then a curved pry bar.
Get the screw to bite into the freeze plug and then a pry bar to get behind the screw and yank the old freeze plug

Clean the area really well
Use lots of light
Install new freeze plug with some loctite red on the outer edge, press it in straight and true… tap until it’s flush with the block

 

[jakebooher91]

Leave it. You are in Arizona, but you'll still need some anti freeze for water pump lubrication, anti corrosion. If the k seal works, drain enough fix coolant to fit a gallon of straight , mix with water, not pre mixed, anti freeze. You'll cool better

Hope this works. Let us know

So after some further inspection, there’s a hole in the freeze plug, maybe about 3-5 mm, I assumed it was leaking from a seal around the freeze plug, which it may be but there’s also definitely a hole in it. Do you think k-seal would fix that, don’t want to waste it if it won’t fill that big of a hole. I’ve also seen people say you can jb weld it since it’s not around the seal it’s in the middle of the plug. Let me know your thoughts on how I should proceed.

 

[410Fortune]

Replace freeze plug
It’s rusted through
Any attempt to repair it will be on borrowed time

 

[Turdle]

Agreed. K seal won't fill that hole well. Sorry for wasting time.

 

[jakebooher91]

Replace freeze plug
It’s rusted through
Any attempt to repair it will be on borrowed time

Understood. Seems like quite a task to do so I’m gonna do my research and see what would be the best possible way to do that. Thanks again for all the help

 

[allmyEXes]

At least if you can get the old freeze plug out and don't have access to tap a new one straight in, the rubber type sandwiched between
2 washers with a center bolt will work. I used one and it lasted for years until the engine came out to go in something else.

 

[410Fortune]

This repair can take just a few hours
Just gotta get that old one out
You can do it!

I would also closely inspect both sides of the engine make sure this is the only freeze plug that is “letting go”