freeze plugs,'88 mercruiser 4.3l 205hp

[geoffrey nothing]

I thought I had winterized well enough last fall, but this spring I found two freeze plugs from the port side of the engine block down in the bilge. I can reach up and press them halfway back into place with my hand, but water still flows out around them. Can I put these back permanantly myself? Is there a sealant I should apply? Thanks, GN

 

[DJ]

Re: freeze plugs,'88 mercruiser 4.3l 205hp

geoffrey,<br /><br />You will need new ones. They can't be reused.<br /><br />You will also need marine core (freeze) plugs. They are made of a different material than automotive.<br /><br />I would check them all. That may not be the extent of the damage.

 

[Juancho]

Re: freeze plugs,'88 mercruiser 4.3l 205hp

Geoffrey,<br /><br />Freeze plugs are a myth. Nine times out of ten they do no prevent the block from cracking. At this point, I would say that there is about a 90% chance that you have a cracked block. Sorry for the bad news. What did you do to winterize the motor?