classic kev · Aug 5, 2008

Has anybody tried replacing the core plugs without taking the engine out?

I did a search and can't see that this has been posted before. I have been told it might be possible to jack the engine under the crank pulley, remove the engine mounts and exhaust manifolds and that way I should be able to get at the core plugs on the block.

Has anybody done this and is there anything I should watch out for?

Any suggestions (polite ones!) would be welcome.

Cheers.

blackvoguebeauty · Aug 5, 2008

I also have a weeping core plug on my 3.5, so I'm thinking about the same job as you.

I know you can do it with the engine in, my mate's done it. Like you said really, he supported the engine on a jack and took the mount out of the way. Pretty sure he managed to lower the engine slightly as well to make the job a bit easier.

Update this and let us know how you get on. Or I will, depends who does it first!

classic kev · Aug 5, 2008

Cheers for that,

what can I say - he who dares.......

gemsdad · Aug 12, 2008

classic kev said:
Cheers for that,

what can I say - he who dares.......

hi,i had a leaking core plug on a different car but this will work on any,i bought jb weld mixed it to spec and filled the core plug with it,stopped the leak with no ongoing problems,hope this helps,gemsdad.

david451 · Aug 12, 2008

gemsdad said:
hi,i had a leaking core plug on a different car but this will work on any,i bought jb weld mixed it to spec and filled the core plug with it,stopped the leak with no ongoing problems,hope this helps,gemsdad.

If they are rotten because of a lack of antifreeze then you are going to have to change them, some engines have them on the rear as well and in behind the flywheel.

If they are just weeping around the edges fook some radweld, or barrs leaks in, barrs leaks also lubs the water pump, and works with antifreeze in the system.

classic kev · Aug 12, 2008

david451 said:
If they are rotten because of a lack of antifreeze then you are going to have to change them, some engines have them on the rear as well and in behind the flywheel.

If they are just weeping around the edges fook some radweld, or barrs leaks in, barrs leaks also lubs the water pump, and works with antifreeze in the system.

I suspect they are weeping because at sometime it has been run with little or no anti freeze, once the corrosion starts though......

It just looks like a **** of a job that I really don't want to do, a lot of messin about to change parts that cost about 50p each ffs. Apart from that I have other issues to sort, the core plugs can wait a while.

When I get round to it will let you all know how it turned out, assuming I don't end up removing the engine to do it!

david451 · Aug 13, 2008

classic kev said:
I suspect they are weeping because at sometime it has been run with little or no anti freeze, once the corrosion starts though......

It just looks like a **** of a job that I really don't want to do, a lot of messin about to change parts that cost about 50p each ffs. Apart from that I have other issues to sort, the core plugs can wait a while.

When I get round to it will let you all know how it turned out, assuming I don't end up removing the engine to do it!

Running engines with low or no antifreeze kills the engine, all that alloy and steel and cast all reacting together, horrible so it is.

hughes1607 · Jul 26, 2012

The core plug on my series 3 has just gone. Took a while to get it out but with persistence it did. The problem now is trying to get the new one in. The core plug is the one next to the starter motor and I have managed to stick some tools together to give me enough space to give it a good whack from the wheel arch area. Core plugs are currently in the freezer to poss give that fraction that I need to get it in. Will update on the weekend when I do it if all goes well. (only thing taken off to do this was the exhaust manifold and heater matrix. )

fett · Jul 26, 2012

well I wouldnt normally admit it but I took the easy route on this. had them leaking on my 3.9 4 door. didnt fancy the full job so out came the brake cleaner and wire brush to get what I could off then I used a pallet knife and some epoxy not available to the general public.

That lasted the 2 years untill I sold the car including laning and it never leaked at all

zen · Jul 27, 2012

hughes1607 said:
Core plugs are currently in the freezer to poss give that fraction that I need to get it in. Will update on the weekend when I do it if all goes well. (only thing taken off to do this was the exhaust manifold and heater matrix. )

now i shouldn't,but if they wacked straight though i would have to laugh..

classic kev

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blackvoguebeauty

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classic kev

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gemsdad

NOT BOTHERED.

david451

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classic kev

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david451

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hughes1607

New Member

fett

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zen

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