Leaking above freeze plugs
03-01-2014, 01:01 PM
#1
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Leaking above freeze plugs
I have what i hope is not a huge problem. I think it is though. I was in the process of flushing the coolant. Got interrupted and left water in for a few days with freezing temps. Came back and notice leaking from engine.
Decided to continue with system flush. I have the prestone T kit also. i wanted to see where the water was leaking from in the engine, so i left the petcock in and the cap on. I then saw water bubbling and leaking from ABOVE the freeze plugs. Actually 3 of them on the side that i can see.
Tried to start Jeep and won;t stay started. Coolant was a thick sludge before i started. Then got it to clear water. Poured in a Prestone cleaner and ran for a couple of hours. I was in the process of flushing that out.
This is a 99XJ with 190k on it. Thoughts? Cracked block? Any easy fix?
Decided to continue with system flush. I have the prestone T kit also. i wanted to see where the water was leaking from in the engine, so i left the petcock in and the cap on. I then saw water bubbling and leaking from ABOVE the freeze plugs. Actually 3 of them on the side that i can see.
Tried to start Jeep and won;t stay started. Coolant was a thick sludge before i started. Then got it to clear water. Poured in a Prestone cleaner and ran for a couple of hours. I was in the process of flushing that out.
This is a 99XJ with 190k on it. Thoughts? Cracked block? Any easy fix?
03-01-2014, 03:52 PM
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Year: 1990
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Engine: 4.0 HO
check your oil for water. pull a spark plug and see if its wet/ rusty maybe.
And so did you just stop the flush? you left us at a dead end here.
also, by sludge in the coolant, was it black like old oil? or just the brown gross old antifreeze?
And so did you just stop the flush? you left us at a dead end here.
also, by sludge in the coolant, was it black like old oil? or just the brown gross old antifreeze?
03-08-2014, 10:24 AM
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I finished the flush and only have water in it for now. Wanted to get it good and clean. Then planned on draining and re-filling with AF/distilled.
The gunk was just brown anti-freeze sludge. No oily smell. Also, there was no water in the oil. Haven;t let it run much. Somewhat hesitant to.
Have not driven it either as i think it may overheat badly because when the engine is revved, the fluid flows out of what appear to be cracks above 2 of the freeze plugs i can see.
I had left water in it for a couple days after doing the flush and the temps got pretty low. Noticed this issue when i got back and started working on it again. Not sure how to proceed or what to even consider at this point.
The gunk was just brown anti-freeze sludge. No oily smell. Also, there was no water in the oil. Haven;t let it run much. Somewhat hesitant to.
Have not driven it either as i think it may overheat badly because when the engine is revved, the fluid flows out of what appear to be cracks above 2 of the freeze plugs i can see.
I had left water in it for a couple days after doing the flush and the temps got pretty low. Noticed this issue when i got back and started working on it again. Not sure how to proceed or what to even consider at this point.
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03-08-2014, 10:59 AM
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Year: 1998 Sport
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By looking at you pic it looks like that you are going to be shopping for a new block. It definitely looks like that there are 2 cracks above the freeze plug. And you said it's like that above 2 of the freeze plugs?
03-08-2014, 11:07 AM
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Could leaving water in there and it freezing cause this? or was it just a problem waiting to happen?
The water is definitely coming out from above the 2 freeze plugs in those notches.
Does this mean entirely new engine? or what. Not sure what to do at this point.
The Jeep starts up and runs fine. The oil pressure stays constant and it revs and idles fine. It is when i rev it that the water runs out above the plugs.
The water is definitely coming out from above the 2 freeze plugs in those notches.
Does this mean entirely new engine? or what. Not sure what to do at this point.
The Jeep starts up and runs fine. The oil pressure stays constant and it revs and idles fine. It is when i rev it that the water runs out above the plugs.
03-08-2014, 11:07 AM
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Year: 1998 Sport
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Exactly!!!
Putting a new head would get you No Where. Other then down the road where you would over heat because you loose all your coolant from the cracks in the block. It is not worth replacing the head unless you have a new block to go with it.
Putting a new head would get you No Where. Other then down the road where you would over heat because you loose all your coolant from the cracks in the block. It is not worth replacing the head unless you have a new block to go with it.
03-08-2014, 11:10 AM
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Leaking above freeze plugs
Your going to need to look for a new block. That's a common spot for them to rust out. Even if you took the old freeze plugs out and replaced them the leak would still be there because it's above the plug. The freezing water could have definitely been the push it needed to start leaking. When water freezes it expands.. You know the rest...
The only thing that you could try.... Would be an additive like stop leak or something like that. It worked for me for months and months. But I don't guarantee that it will work. Just a thought.
The only thing that you could try.... Would be an additive like stop leak or something like that. It worked for me for months and months. But I don't guarantee that it will work. Just a thought.
03-08-2014, 11:11 AM
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The block is busted.
The engine is ruined.
Yes, you left plain water in it for several days in sub-freezing temperature. Yes, water expands when frozen. Yes, you busted your block. You might have busted the head too.
The engine is ruined.
Yes, you left plain water in it for several days in sub-freezing temperature. Yes, water expands when frozen. Yes, you busted your block. You might have busted the head too.
Last edited by Firestorm500; 03-08-2014 at 11:13 AM.
03-08-2014, 11:12 AM
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Year: 1998 Sport
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Engine: 4.0
Could leaving water in there and it freezing cause this? or was it just a problem waiting to happen?
The water is definitely coming out from above the 2 freeze plugs in those notches.
Does this mean entirely new engine? or what. Not sure what to do at this point.
The Jeep starts up and runs fine. The oil pressure stays constant and it revs and idles fine. It is when i rev it that the water runs out above the plugs.
The water is definitely coming out from above the 2 freeze plugs in those notches.
Does this mean entirely new engine? or what. Not sure what to do at this point.
The Jeep starts up and runs fine. The oil pressure stays constant and it revs and idles fine. It is when i rev it that the water runs out above the plugs.
2) Yes! it is time for a new engine. Or at least a new/used block and rebuild or a running replacement.
3) I wouldn't drive it as it is. It will only over heat and leave you stranded.