freeze plug= soft plug
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New User
Joined: Jul 2005
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freeze plug= soft plug
I see a lot of reference to "freeze plugs" in these forums.
When I was just a lad, about the time transistor radios became popular, my dad said something about these things. My old man was a good mechanic and could tell you which valve on which cylinder was making that slight click that I could hardly hear. And that was walking by from 30 ft away.
He said these things aren't really "freeze plugs". They're from the casting process and are correctly called soft plugs. Of course they DO get pushed out when your engine freezes up at 40 below zero, but that's coincidence. They weren't put there by design to save your block from cracking, and they probably won't.
Nonetheless, my dad has been gone for 11 yrs, and "freeze plugs" still remain. He would have loved the Internet.
When I was just a lad, about the time transistor radios became popular, my dad said something about these things. My old man was a good mechanic and could tell you which valve on which cylinder was making that slight click that I could hardly hear. And that was walking by from 30 ft away.
He said these things aren't really "freeze plugs". They're from the casting process and are correctly called soft plugs. Of course they DO get pushed out when your engine freezes up at 40 below zero, but that's coincidence. They weren't put there by design to save your block from cracking, and they probably won't.
Nonetheless, my dad has been gone for 11 yrs, and "freeze plugs" still remain. He would have loved the Internet.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
I can guarantee without a doubt they will not protect a motor from freezing, I have seen the sides blown out of a block and the "freeze" plugs still in place without so much as a bow... as you stated, they are only for letting the sand out of the casting, nothing more.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
they are still available, but i wouldn't want to use them either. I have something similar for tie downs on my box, junk too...
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
Those rubber tie down inserts are another joke. IMO.
I guess those rubber freeze plugs are good to carry in your vehicle as an emergency back-up just incase your're out in the boonies and you lose a plug.
But that's about it.
I guess those rubber freeze plugs are good to carry in your vehicle as an emergency back-up just incase your're out in the boonies and you lose a plug.
But that's about it.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
True; but in the middle of nowhere, they could get you to a place to properly fix it; especially if you barely have enough room to get one in and tighten that nut and pray. 
Like we said before, don't trust them.
Like we said before, don't trust them.
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