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Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
#1753980
02/13/15 07:51 PM
02/13/15 07:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 156
San Diego
Instigate
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San Diego
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I get my LA 318 rebuilt by a machine shop and I've got it all put back in the truck and I put coolant in because I'm all ready to start it up and I see before I even start it, its leaking coolant from a freeze plug..
So this shop that rebuilt the engine, they put the rocker shafts on backwards, put rocker arms in the wrong order, fail to chase ANY threads and now I see a freeze plus is leaking.
I call the shop and the guy says to go ahead and start it up that the plug will stop leaking once it gets up to temp. Is this correct. Has anyone experienced this? The guy said it's a common thing to happen. But with all the other mistakes they made it seems to me that they prolly just didn't do a good job cleaning it. But this is the first time I've started a newly rebuilt engine so idk.
If what he's saying is true wouldn't it leak again once it cools down?
Last edited by Instigate; 02/13/15 07:55 PM.
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1753982
02/13/15 08:13 PM
02/13/15 08:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 156
San Diego
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Quote:
Quote:
I call the shop and the guy says to go ahead and start it up that the plug will stop leaking once it gets up to temp. Is this correct. [quote/] (1) not correct. I'd go ahead and pull it & drive in a new one/with sealant. & since they butchered a kindergarten level job like the freeze plugs, before firing I'd pump the system up to 15 or 20 lbs & see if it holds. SB's have (2) in the back bell area
Ya, that's what I was thinking I should do. Thanks bud. I sure learned a lesson about just going with the cheapest place available. I would have been better off paying a couple hundred more to have a more reputable place do the job.
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: OzHemi]
#1753984
02/13/15 08:25 PM
02/13/15 08:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 156
San Diego
Instigate
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Quote:
As Robert said...that is not true...that engine shop sure doesn't have much going for them.  
Freeze plugs should not weep hot or cold, etc. Started or not..
Once it is running the cooling system builds pressure, what will it be like then!
That's what I thought lol and when it cools it will be just as it was before.
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: Instigate]
#1753985
02/13/15 09:20 PM
02/13/15 09:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,310
Prospect, PA
BSB67
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,310
Prospect, PA
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Quote:
I get my LA 318 rebuilt by a machine shop and I've got it all put back in the truck and I put coolant in because I'm all ready to start it up and I see before I even start it, its leaking coolant from a freeze plug..
So this shop that rebuilt the engine, they put the rocker shafts on backwards, put rocker arms in the wrong order, fail to chase ANY threads and now I see a freeze plus is leaking.
I call the shop and the guy says to go ahead and start it up that the plug will stop leaking once it gets up to temp. Is this correct. Has anyone experienced this? The guy said it's a common thing to happen. But with all the other mistakes they made it seems to me that they prolly just didn't do a good job cleaning it. But this is the first time I've started a newly rebuilt engine so idk.
If what he's saying is true wouldn't it leak again once it cools down?
Sleep easy, I'm sure that they got the hard, complicated and critical parts right.
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#1753987
02/13/15 10:07 PM
02/13/15 10:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 156
San Diego
Instigate
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Quote:
are they brass or steel plugs?
I have had a couple brass leak and I used the brown Indian head gasket shellac to seal on install.
after it got up to temp a FEW times it sealed the plug and never leaked again.
best to use some emery cloth to clean the cast iron seal surface before hand...done at the same time you would chase ALL threds/holes in the block.
I ALWAYS use 2 brass plugs in the back of block, sucks when you have to R&R the trans to replace a rusted steel plug.
I wager you have a 50/50 chance a couple heat cycles would expand it enough to seal...if they did not bend it or cup it out of shape.
another reason I test fire my engine build with water the first go round..anti freeze is $$ to be leaking out on the ground.
good luck and keep us posted on progress plez.
check your PM, I sent you one about the vid link you posted
For sure. They used brass plugs on it.
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: Instigate]
#1753988
02/13/15 10:39 PM
02/13/15 10:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
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You think the factory f'd around with leaky freeze plugs that finally sealed after a few warmups?
No, if it's leaking it was done wrong.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: TJP]
#1753994
02/14/15 01:42 PM
02/14/15 01:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:
I would say, How bad is it leaking??? A drip, a stream ????
It is not unusual for freeze plugs to leak a bit if they were installed DRY. A heat cycle or two may correct a small drip. A stream not likely. A lot of suppliers of reman or even new engines recommend their "sealant of choice" for cooling systems on install of the motor.
So a minor drip, MAYBE, a steady leak, not likely the long term fix I would be comfortable with. Hope this helped to some degree  
Put some stop leak in the coolant system and get it hot and all of the leaks will seal forever. It's a conditioner also for the coolant system too. No big deal on the freeze/core plugs, imo.
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: Challenger 1]
#1753995
02/14/15 03:26 PM
02/14/15 03:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,064
Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,064
Niles , Ohio
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Better yet check to see if there is a small crack in the block.I had a 440 that had a leak there.Sealed for years then when it was tanked the crack was there and bigger.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: Challenger 1]
#1753996
02/14/15 11:12 PM
02/14/15 11:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
MoparforLife
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
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Quote:
Quote:
I would say, How bad is it leaking??? A drip, a stream ????
It is not unusual for freeze plugs to leak a bit if they were installed DRY. A heat cycle or two may correct a small drip. A stream not likely. A lot of suppliers of reman or even new engines recommend their "sealant of choice" for cooling systems on install of the motor.
So a minor drip, MAYBE, a steady leak, not likely the long term fix I would be comfortable with. Hope this helped to some degree
Put some stop leak in the coolant system and get it hot and all of the leaks will seal forever. It's a conditioner also for the coolant system too. No big deal on the freeze/core plugs, imo.
Don't bandaide. Do it right. Pop out the plug, get a new one and smooth out the block surfaces, put a little sealer on the plug/block surfaces and reinstall.
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: GarageDodge]
#1753998
02/15/15 02:16 PM
02/15/15 02:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 601
Mass
charge70
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 601
Mass
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Is there any possibility that it is one of the end exhaust manifold studs/bolts leaking.Coolant leaking there and running down onto the freeze plug making it look like the plug is leaking? Just thinking out loud. My John.
1970 Dodge Charger R/T S.E.
1969 Dodge Dart GTS 440 M-Code
1970 Dodge Charger 500 383/4-speed w/A.C.
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Re: Newly rebuilt engine leaking coolant from a freezeplug
[Re: charge70]
#1753999
02/15/15 03:07 PM
02/15/15 03:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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I'd love to hear this shop's fix when the rods start knocking because they didn't check bearing clearances...
'Add some 90 weight gear oil...and sawdust. That'll stop the knocking'
**Photobucket sucks**
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