when i changed my oil today, i noticed a small puddle of antifreeze on the ground. i traced it to the rear of the engine where the oil pan meets the transmission. it's only dripping once every minute or two. do you think that this is the freeze plug, or something else? how safe is it to drive?

P.S. its a 88 firebird w/ a 2.8 mpfi and auto trans.

 

Did you search up the back of the motor? I know its not easy mirrors work well. It might be a frost plug but it might be a leaking intake or head gasket hope you find it.

 

no i haven't looked anywhere yet. i just noticed it today and didn't have time to pinpoint the location. i heard something about pressure testing. who does it and what does it do?

 

Most mechanics will have a pressure test kit. They replace the radiator cap with an air pump and pressurize the system to see if it holds pressure, and if not where it leaks.

 

thanks for the info. i guess it's time to go to the shop for a little bit, just to make sure i know where it's comming from.

 

btw, how many plugs are there on the engine?

 

anyone?

 

Coolant plugs? About 4 or 6 freeze plugs and a couple of pipe plugs.

 

well, today i pulled the drive shaft out, took the tranny out, removed the flywheel, just to replace the freeze plug that was leaking. i went ahead and replaced the others while i was there. i put the tranny back in and everything, now i just need the driveshaft. i'm replacing the u-joints while i have it out. the problem is that the u-joints that are on there are the origional ones and arent budging. any tips on how to get those out?

 

a Big F*cking Hammer

No seriously, I had to take a hammer to mine, they were like welded in or something. If you're replacing the U-joints anyways, what's it going to hurt heh. Just give them a few good swift whacks and it should fall right out

 

lol
i tried that a little...i didn't go overboard or anything though. thanks for the tip.