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Question: Popped a few freeze plugs.

Question

DaveyBMI, 4 Cylinder, Warren, MI, April 21, 2009, 19:44
 Rookie

Hello, I left to much water in my radiator over the winter and ended up popping a few freeze plugs. I've been told that the labor involved costs just as much as if you were to replace the engine. Plus once it's done there is no guarantee the block isn't cracked. The van is in great shape and it's something I really like to use in the summertime. So I;'m wondering instead of replacing the engine, can I just purchase a reman block which would be about 1/6th the cost of buying an entire engine. Or would that be even sillier because I'd be putting old guts into a new body? Thanks for your help.

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  • Answer #1

    spyder April 22, 2009, 14:07
     Journeyman

    The re manufactured block would be good as new.
    The only question would involve reusing the cylinder head as it could be cracked.

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  • Answer #2

    jean9 May 11, 2009, 07:32
     Rookie

    Ouch, expensive lesson to learn that antifreeze is relatively cheap protection compared to the alternative. I narrowly dodged that one myself . My baby sat through two winters unstarted. Almost didn't put antifreeze in. Started right up this April with just a jump, because the battery wasn't pulled and got a freeze crack down the side. Runs fine, thank god. My sympathies are with you on that one.

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  • Answer #3

    Visitor, July 05, 2011, 11:04

    You have probably moved on with this by now, but you could start by replacing the "freeze plugs" (they really aren't what people call them) yourself, filling the cooling system w/ coolant, and seeing if you can run, start, and drive the vehicle without a problem, that is a leak and or a crack or two.

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  • Answer #4

    DNO36 January 04, 2012, 07:15
     Enthusiast

    Freeze plug replacement is much cheaper than replacing an engine!! They are designed to keep the block from cracking.

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