Does anybody have any tips on how to get the coolant plug out of a 1989 4.0 Cherokee? Ive sprayed it with wd-40 tried a breaker bar and just borrowed an air ratchet from a friend and still havent been able to get it out. Probably gonna take it to a shop in the next few days but wanted to see if anybody had some tips before i did.

 

What coolant plug ? a picture would help to know what you are talking about.

 

Which plug? Where is it, and why are you needing to remove it?

 

I am confused about what a coolant plug is aswell.

Ifnyou want to drain the coolant pop the lower radiator hose off

 

I can't think of one thing on a Cherokee cooling system that would be removed by a socket or wrench, except possibly the temp sensor.

Can you post a pic?

 

My first thought was freeze plug but that cant be what he means

 

Bet he's meaning the drain plugs in the side of the block.

 

My GUESS also. They're 5/16" female plugs. And difficult to remove.

 

Leave it be. If you want to drain the coolant, just pull the lower radiator hose off the radiator, or the waterpump. Then flush it out.

 

If he is in fact asking about those plugs they are a job to get out. Eventually got mine out but it was of nesseccity. If you dont need to take them out I agree, leave them in.

 

Well I guess the freeze plug is the one I was talking about. I didnt do as much research as I thought I did. Sorry to waste your time guys.

 

 

I stole it.....

 

My 2000 "Clean Side" block only has one and it's the rear one in that pic. It is a 5/16 square female 3/8 pipe plug. About the only thing it's good for is totally draining the block if you're going to pull the engine out of the truck so it doesn't **** all over everything. It accesses the water jacket between the #4 and #5 cylinder barrels and will remove some of the debris that settles there.

 

Those "freeze" plugs are actually Core hole plugs. The ceramic sand cores that mold the water jacket are supported by tabs on their sides that fit in holes in the mold. After the cores are removed, the holes are machined and the press in plugs are installed.