I just found out that my car engine has some plug in the side of it near the oil filter that is out so my car is leaking coolant as fast as you put it in. how big a problem is this and how much will it cost to fix? is my engine ruined and what would cause this plug to pop out

 

that is your freeze plug. It can pop out from coolant freezing or way over heating. Maybe it was already about too fall out and finally just did for some weird reason. Anyways they are very cheap you can get one for under a dollar or a set full of them for a couple of buck... just find out what size (parts store may know this) or buy a set and see which one fits it. The sizes are usually expressed in inches..... could be millimeters. Anyways you can easily install these yourself.... just find the one that is a real tight fit.... you WONT be able to push in by hand... you can install it by tapping the edges with a hammer. Hopefully you will have easy access to it without removing anything

 

Got my schools auto technology class lookin at it right now. if they can't do it i'm gona load it up on my dads truck and take it home and fix it there.

 

dream is right, their is a freeze plug right above the oil mount.

This is a metric engine, but now-a-days the plugs are expressed in dual size inch/metric.

You will have to hammer it and twist it making sure not to knock it in the engine with a screwdriver/chisel.

Grab some plyers and tug it out. This usually takes a few 4 letter words.

Clean edges up
Hammer new plug in
fill engine with fluid.

Being the plug is on the side of the engine, and our fenderwells arnt removable, its gonna be a PITA.

 

before you put in the new one, take some fine sandpaper and get the block and the edges of the plug. Put some sealant on it too.

 

Yep, clean it up very well, and then put a little RTV (red) around the new freeze plug to get it in.

As far as the plug goes...

Either get a brass one, and pop it in (sometimes a PITA) - If you don't want to fight with it, go to Autozone, and get a rubber plug - you just set it in the hole, and tighten it. Easy as pie!

 

again thanks for your help and I just found out why it came out. well after installing the engine my dad tells my sister (who i got the car from) to put anti freeze in it before winter. well she doesn't and when it got cold the block frose and pushed out all the plugs. my dad and brother managed to get all but two back in it. The two they missed were the one that came out and the one on the other side of the engine so they use the rubber ones cause they would have had to take off the manifolds to get to them and they didn't want to . well after about three years of the car being treated like **** one of them desided to let go on me. my sister don't take very good care of her cars

 

Wow that kinds sucks that she let that happen. I am not totally sure but I think their might be a freeze plug or 2 on the back side of the engine I cant remember...... and Im not talking about the plug on the back side of the cam shaft. To get access to it you have to take out the tranny. Can someone conferm this for me if there is a freeze plug on the back that goes to a coolant jacket. If there is I wonder what the condition of those are on your motor.

 

omg you just scared the **** out of me

 

Well like I said Im not sure if there is one or not on the back of the 2.8 its been a while since I had one out so I cant remember. Hoping someone will conferm that for me or not. Anyways once you get that freeze plug in that you know is out and it doesnt leak then I wouldnt worry about it. If you dont want to waste money on antifreeze ... pour the 50% water in first .... if it doesnt leak that out ... pour the other 50% coolant.

 

Yay! I just got me car back. I'm soooooooooo happy :lala: heres to the mechanics who fixed it for free:hail:

 

2 on rear
2 on front
1 on each side

Total of 6

Then if you install 3.4, you can install plug in cam and crank sensor holes