Well, the daily nickle and dime issues continue to occur with my 85 Ford F350 6.9L Diesel. Yesterday the truck left me 40 miles from home with just about 2 gallons of coolant on the floor of the parking lot. The block heater is leaking. Block does not look cracked thankfully. I was thinking of removing the block heater all together, adding a freeze plug, and installing a tank style heater instead.

It seems as though installing a freeze plug is not as simple as pounding it into the block. And seeing as though I have very poor luck I am concerned about this thing blowing out of the truck when I am away from home. I have been researching this topic on another forum and am not getting the info I am looking for. Supposedly there is a very expensive "special tool" that I need to purchase this one freeze plug. Seems kind of ridiculous! What does this special tool consist of and can I use something else that's similar, like a socket of sorts? I was also thinking of using a sealant in the bore to prevent leaking, and JB Weld or Epoxy on the plug as cheap insurance its not going to blow out. What's the best way to go on this one???

Dan

 

Make the rounds to the different parts stores. One of them should sell the rubber expanding type freeze plugs. These are much easier to install when the engine is still installed in the vehicle. You tighten a bolt in the middle and it swells the rubber out to seal the hole.

 

NAPA HAS THEM I DID MINE YEARS AGO NO TROUBLE.

 

NO WAY!! i would never put another one of those rubber ones in a engine EVER again.. i had one in my mustang for a quick fix (same thing block heater leaked so i put a rubber one in) i took my car to the track about 2 weeks later and i blew the rubber one out and almost put my car into the wall.

I replaced it with a metal one.. all i did was use a huge socket and pounded it in there real even and its been great for years now..

 

if you decide to go with a brass plug, coat the perimeter of the plug with thread sealer to help prevent seeping.