1993 Dodge Dakota LE, 5.2L, A518 auto trans, RWD, 191,000 miles, original owner

I have a nagging coolant leak. Actually, I only noticed it because I have to put a quart of coolant in the overflow every 500ish miles. Never saw coolant on the garage floor. So I was either losing it on the road or, worse, was about to blow a head gasket. Oil never looked compromised so I was leaning to the former. Well, I saw a little coolant on the garage floor the other day so I stuck my face up there and see it is leaking out of a freeze plug just to the driver's side of the crankshaft.

The way I see it, I have two options. Replace that freeze plug with another metal (brass?) plug or use one of those rubber expansion plugs. My understanding is those rubber expansion plugs don't last very long. But if you lack swing room to hammer a metal plug back in then a rubber expansion plug is a viable option due to its wrench-ability. Having no experience with replacing freeze plugs, I'm reaching out to anyone who can give me some tips/advice on removal of the old one and replacing using one of these two options. I don't think I'll have enuf swing room for a metal plug. Thanks

 

In order to put the new one in, gotta get the old one out..... and if you have one springin' a leak, the others are not far behind. Best bet is to drop the trans, and change all of 'em back there. (I think there are three....) Those are the hardest to get to.... Couple others are under the motor mounts, but, on a 2wd, those shouldn't be real bad. (and for the rest of 'em, wait for 'em to spring a leak before goin' after them.....)

I don't know if you could just put the rubber plug right into the existing freeze plug, and get enough of a grip for it to seal, and stay in place...... Another option might be to drive the existing plug INTO the block, and then put the rubber plug in..... and yet another opportunity.... might be to just drive something thru the freeze plug, and maybe pry it out. Not like you care if you destroy it..... you aren't going to be reinstalling it.

 

I look forward to dropping my transmission to replace three, 59 cent metal plugs.

 

If you repeat that often enough, you may eventually come to believe it.......


Or not......

 

You might get some traction with a 4lb hammer and jacking it up 8 or 10 inches to get swing room. Can't imagine it needs very much force to push it it.

 

I would imagine if you remove the fan and shroud you would have enough room.
This is what i thought when i got my truck. It was leaking out of the freeze plug behind the motor mount. At 60K i replaced the three on the side. Now at 250K+ no other plug has sprung a leak. Now that I posted this one will start leaking. Or it will wait till the middle of January.

 

It will be worth a try. I see guys tapping in one side to get the plug to rotate. They can pick it out from there.

 

I gave that some thought and will consider doing that if necessary. Good idea. Not that hard to to remove the fan and shroud.

I'm not sure if they use any sealants on those plugs but if they do I wonder how they hold up against old oil. The plug is covered with old crusty oil from those days when the valve cover was leaking. Could be that old oil ate up the sealant?? I almost hope it did cuz I'd feel better about the other freeze plugs that weren't exposed to that crusty oil.

Knockin on wood for yuh.

 

I generally put some RTV around them, then drive them in.... Might be easier to put it on the hole side, rather than the plug itself though. (less messy too......) Just make sure the sealing surface is squeaky clean.

 

Should probably use hi temp RTV, no?