Freeze plug blew out
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: PA
Freeze plug blew out
Took the truck on a trip from PA to FL. Got to VA and a freeze plug blew out. Dreading what the local dealership will say. Don't want to get ripped off miles from home. What am I looking at for replacement, labor, etc.? Didn't need this crap.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Francestown, NH
I've seen a few videos on youtube that make it look easy, but none were on a 6.0.
I can't imagine that getting to any of them on the 6.0 in the tight quarters we have to work with would be easy.
I'm curious if it happened while you were driving & how you knew from the drivers seat.
Do you have gauges and see the eot & ect temps rise?
That would suck if it blew out in the middle of nowhere and dumped your coolant out.
Hope it works out well.
I can't imagine that getting to any of them on the 6.0 in the tight quarters we have to work with would be easy.
I'm curious if it happened while you were driving & how you knew from the drivers seat.
Do you have gauges and see the eot & ect temps rise?
That would suck if it blew out in the middle of nowhere and dumped your coolant out.
Hope it works out well.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 8,241
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From: L.A. (Lower Alabama)
Shouldn't be too bad if it's remotely acessable. You possibly could so it yourself in a parking lot. Parts store has expanding plugs with a nut you can turn to tighten them up. Kinda temp repair tho All depends on where it's at on engine and if you can get to it. Good luck!
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 8,241
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From: L.A. (Lower Alabama)
Dang. Not a parking lot job on my FX4. Not sure what clearance is on 2WD. Gonna need jacks. Maybe a hour or two for a good mech to replace a $2 part. Hope things go well in your search for a shop!
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From: PA
Are we talking a couple hundred to fix, or closer to $1,000? I really have no money for this, but who ever does. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the truck and knew it wouldn't be cheap to maintain. Just not in a good mood about it now. I'll get over it.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Middle Tn.
This can happen to any vehicle with soft plugs. I've had it happen on gassers. Just be glad that you caught it before any engine damage was done. I haven't seen any engines lately where they are easy to get to. It's almost like it was planned that way.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: L.A. (Lower Alabama)
Just a guess of course but I would expect sumthing around $300,likely a little less, for the one. it' not a giant job unless they find the others failing. The part(s) are not expensive but It will need coolant replaced. I would have them check the others they can see, as 69cj said, they tend to fail about the same time and you are a long way from home....
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: L.A. (Lower Alabama)
One more observation, it's a straight forward repair. The mech wouldn't have to be a 6.0 guru to fix it correctly. (wouldn't have to be a dealership job unless warranty is involved) might open up a few more options on your shop search.
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: PA
You'll love this:
So they tell me it'll be around $5400. There will be 31 hours in labor to jack the engine up out of the truck so they can get to the one behind the motor mount and they want to do the head gaskets while the engine is jacked out and easy to get to. It'll also be a week because they only have 2 diesel mechanics and they already have someone else's truck torn apart and can't get to mine until the end of this week or beginning of next.
I call rip-off. Bergland Ford in Salem, VA. I'm calling around to see if I can get my buddy to come down and tow it home. I have some other voice messages to mechanically inclined friends, one of which has his own diesel shop. I really don't see how a $5.70 part causes a total bill of $5400!?! I see it being difficult to get to behind the motor mount, but seriously, $5400??!!
So they tell me it'll be around $5400. There will be 31 hours in labor to jack the engine up out of the truck so they can get to the one behind the motor mount and they want to do the head gaskets while the engine is jacked out and easy to get to. It'll also be a week because they only have 2 diesel mechanics and they already have someone else's truck torn apart and can't get to mine until the end of this week or beginning of next.
I call rip-off. Bergland Ford in Salem, VA. I'm calling around to see if I can get my buddy to come down and tow it home. I have some other voice messages to mechanically inclined friends, one of which has his own diesel shop. I really don't see how a $5.70 part causes a total bill of $5400!?! I see it being difficult to get to behind the motor mount, but seriously, $5400??!!
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Whittier, CA
I would like to know if the plug blew out whole, or rusted and blew out in the middle web section.
If it blew it out whole, perhaps the dealer is thinking that excessive coolant system pressure is the cause. I don't know why they would want to do head gaskets unless they are thinking that was the cause. Sounds very fishy.
If it blew it out whole, perhaps the dealer is thinking that excessive coolant system pressure is the cause. I don't know why they would want to do head gaskets unless they are thinking that was the cause. Sounds very fishy.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: PA
I talked to the guy that did my injectors and he said to do heads, new gaskets, ARP studs, oil cooler and replace the freeze plug would only be about $4500. These jokers want $5400 to do all Ford stuff. I don't know a lot, but I do remember some reading about how the ARP studs are much better when redoing head gaskets. What a pain! Guess I won't be buying that gun that I wanted.