Today I was having my exhaust being checked for leaks. I floored it a few times. The mechanic said I have water dripping from the engine. He checked and said one of my water taps was broken and it needs to be replaced.

The problem is he can't reach the water tap without taking out the whole engine (Which will cost me lots of money).

I said I'll come back to service soon. Which he protested that I would spray all the water in coolant system to the ground before I get home and kill my engine. I insisted so he gave me 15 litres of water so that I can refill when water gets low.

However during my trip to home. I did not lose any water from the coolant (about 40 mile highway trip) I called them back and he said something probably stuck there closed the leak and I should do the change as soon possible.

My question is my mechanic telling the truth? If yes do I still need to take out the whole engine just to replace a 1$ tap cause it will cost me 200$ to replace it.

Thanks for reading

 

What general area did the mechanic incline? I guess I am kind of confused at what you mean by "tap." The only thing that I can really think of him meaning is you are leaking at a freeze plug (the only thing that would really require the engine to be removed in order to replace.)

Did your mechanic point out at all or anything?

 

I made searched about freeze plugs and I think my problem is them. Is there any way to change the freeze plugs without removing the engine?

My mechanic said it would be very easy in a 350 engine but It's impossible to reach it in a 305 engine without removing it. (1 more reason to hate 305 engines )

 

Externally a 305 and 350 are identical, only outside difference is casting numbers, etc. If you want to do it yourself and can ID which freeze plug is leaking, they make an expandable rubber freeze plug for just such problems. You remove the old one with a screwdriver/cotter key extractor, clean the hole and stick the rubber plug in and tighten the nut on the outside until the rubber plug expands and can't be pried from the block.

 

These don't usually leak, then quit. Park it on concrete a couple days and keep an eye under it for leaking, check coolant often. If you do see a leak go from there.