1990 aerostar freeze plugs
#46
05-30-2014, 02:37 AM
Most of the core plugs seal coolant passages, not oil. The heads have a plug on each end, and they cover coolant passages. If the leak is indeed oil and from the head, it's not likely from the core plugs, but probably from the valve cover gaskets. Since you say it's smoking, it's more likely to be oil leaking from the valve cover gaskets, and not coolant from a core plug.
The valve cover gasket will be easier to change than actually replacing core plugs. It will require removal of everything on top of the engine to get to the valve covers, including the upper intake manifold. You have to remove a lot of wires and hoses, including the fuel lines. I broke my PCV valve doing this, so I had to glue it back together with epoxy. Once you get valve covers off, the most time consuming part is to clean off the old gasket and mating surfaces.
If it's core leaks on the head, they are on each end, and you can reach them both without remove the engine. But you will need to remove the front dress; AC compressor, alternator, and move other things out of the way to get to the front cores. This may be easier if you remove the fan first, but that will require special tools that you may be able to rent from your local auto parts store. The rear cores have to be reached through the dog house opening.
The engine compartment of the Aerostar is quite cramped, and doing a lot of this will require some contortion. As for whether a girl can do it, I think anyone who can read a Haynes or Chilton manual and have the right tools and know how to use them can probably do this. You can check out the manuals ahead of time to see what's involved.
The valve cover gasket will be easier to change than actually replacing core plugs. It will require removal of everything on top of the engine to get to the valve covers, including the upper intake manifold. You have to remove a lot of wires and hoses, including the fuel lines. I broke my PCV valve doing this, so I had to glue it back together with epoxy. Once you get valve covers off, the most time consuming part is to clean off the old gasket and mating surfaces.
If it's core leaks on the head, they are on each end, and you can reach them both without remove the engine. But you will need to remove the front dress; AC compressor, alternator, and move other things out of the way to get to the front cores. This may be easier if you remove the fan first, but that will require special tools that you may be able to rent from your local auto parts store. The rear cores have to be reached through the dog house opening.
The engine compartment of the Aerostar is quite cramped, and doing a lot of this will require some contortion. As for whether a girl can do it, I think anyone who can read a Haynes or Chilton manual and have the right tools and know how to use them can probably do this. You can check out the manuals ahead of time to see what's involved.
#47
05-31-2014, 10:28 AM
I remember my 1986 3.0 Aerostar started to leak coolant through one of the Block plugs.
I took it to a Firestone and the mechanic showed me which plug was the problem, he replaced it with a Dorman Expansion Copper Plug of which I still have a spare he gave me. Neither the 1992 or my current 1997 have had plug problems.
xlt4wd90 is correct, those Block expansion plugs are mostly coolant-passage plugs, not oil.
I took it to a Firestone and the mechanic showed me which plug was the problem, he replaced it with a Dorman Expansion Copper Plug of which I still have a spare he gave me. Neither the 1992 or my current 1997 have had plug problems.
xlt4wd90 is correct, those Block expansion plugs are mostly coolant-passage plugs, not oil.
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