I moved back to school yesterday. Drive the ol idi from Galveston county tx to Tulsa Oklahoma. 500 miles pulling a trailer, truck did flawlessly. I was actually quite proud of the truck lol

This morning it was 3 degrees, I went out this afternoon and found coolant all over the ground under my truck. It's coming from the passenger side toward the front of the block. I can see it dripping down the exhaust manifold, down by the head gasket, and then down the block to the ground. Now, my ******* being from south Texas, realized my antifreeze is mixed up 50/50. All my buddies say they run straight antifreeze during
The winter. My antifreeze was getting kinda thick on the ground. So I think it froze and I popped the front freeze plug on the front of the head. I can't actually see it because the fuel filter housing is bolted right over it. Does this make sense to y'all?? Freeze plug? I jus want to make damn sure before I take the truck apart in the parking
Lot. Thanks

 

Your heater hose goes into the head at about that location. 50/50 mix will get you to -45. So you should be good. I was always told not to run strait antifreeze.

 

straight antifreeze will freeze up and turn to slush at around 25 degrees. you nee to mix it with water to make it work. as said, a 50-50 mix should be good for around -30 to -50 degrees.

 

Good suggestion, check that hose.

X3 on not running straight anti-freeze.

 

the coolant is the corrosion inhibitors,sca's,antifreeze and other good stuff.the water is the cooling part.as noted,the 50/50 mix is what you want.running straight antifreeze,not only would the good stuff in the coolant not do it's job to protect the engine,but it would overheat too.i would guess you had more water in there than you thought you had if she froze up and blew a freeze plug.
one these should be used every 3 months or so;

 

Thanks for the input fellas. It isn't that heater hose...it's further forward than that. I can see it leaking down the block by the fuel pump. And on the front I the ex mani. So I'm pretty damn sure it's that freeze plug on the front of the head. Does anyone know what size that freeze if is?? I want to have one before I take it apart

 

ouch! that stinks, I was worried this morning about the same issue but it was only 12 degrees and mine was alright. not sure if there is a freeze plug in the location your talking about.

 

That's about the area the t-stat housing is, so you might want to check that out.

 

Just want to point out what was said earlier here:
Ethylene glycol -- i.e. coolant -- is weird stuff. By itself, it has a much higher freeze point than a good 50/50 mix. More water, or less water, and your freeze point goes back up depending on the percentage.