Drain Plugs Yes / No?

[cjflanagan]

Question~ my brand new engine's (350 Magnum) water jacket drains have been sealed by the engine builder with 1/4 inch plugs and I cant get them out! I think there is lock tight on the threads as I've broken two 1/4 inch allen wrenches trying to back them out. I was thinking about using heat (engine is not in boat but on stand) but will certainly screw up the paint. A friend mentioned to me that he never uses his drains and just winterizes with biodegradable anti-freeze. I always used to just drain mine dry. I can still drain my manifolds. What do you guys think?

 

[lenny2113]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Drain manifolds and run 50/50 green antifreeze/water mixture thru your engine. I used oune of those "winterizing" kits that comes with a 5 galon container for the antizreeze. Run engine on muffs with this winterizing kit connected to muffs. There is a switch that will close garden hose water and start delivering your mixture to the engine block and manifolds.<br />Container should be elevated abofe the drive.<br />Thermostat must be open for antifreeze to circulate thru your block.<br />My winterizing container has a vent hole with a small plastic cap on it. I removed cap and started process. Good I noticed that my container started shrinking... I realized that there is no actual vent hole under that little cap. So it was sucking air out of the container and engine temp reached 210F. Was I glad I noticed in time... <br />Bottom line I winterized without draining block and all was fine.<br />Good Luck

 

[Bondo]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Remove the Plugs,+ Install Drains,.... Now.....<br /><br />Then you'll still have the Option Later........<br /><br />They may be Tight,..... I Doubt there's Lock-tite on them,.....Pipe Dope maybe,.. But Not lock-tite.....

 

[cjflanagan]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Any advice on how to get them out? Like I said I have broken 2 craftsman allen sockets trying to back them out. I've also tried a breaker bar and an impact wrench. No luck. The stuff that is sealing them in there is white.

 

[8x56mn]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

I believe you will have to heat them. When you replace try this. Rap threads with teflon tape and then coat the tap with a good pipe dope. When you want to take the plug out next fall the plugs will spin out easily. Old fitter trick I've used for years. Even 2" plugs come out with ease and don't leak.

 

[I/O WALDO]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Replace them with 2 piece block drain plugs and never havva nuther problem!

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Mabey if you give them a couple of good raps with a hammer, it might loosen them up.

 

[ross_larter]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

These easy drain plugs are cool<br /><br /> http://www.skidim.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MCM003

 

[KaGee]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

1) heat should not hurt the paint provided the paint was hi-temp, as it should have been.<br /><br />2) DO NOT use teflon tape on cast iron pipe threads. Use teflon thread sealant instead. Be careful not to over tighten when you replace. Teflon will make it easier for you to overtighten.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Originally posted by ross_larter:<br /> These easy drain plugs are cool<br /><br /> http://www.skidim.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MCM003

The Problem I have with a Drain like the 1s pictured is;..........<br /><br />How are you going to Root them Out with a screw when they become Plugged,..???.....<br />And they Will become Plugged............<br /><br />I prefer the 1s that are Straight,+ with an Open Center..........

 

[ron7000]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

if the engine is on a stand, definitely go thru the aggravation of removing them. Block freeze damage is from water left in the block. Even though you may run antifreeze through the system it gets diluted by any water in the system and if that don't mix well you still have a water pocket... which freezes and cracks the block. Always better to drain as much water out first then flush with anti-freeze.<br /><br />If you have an oxy-acetylene or mapp gas torch you can put the flame right on the plug and might be able to get it free with doing no paint damage. Don't use a propane torch.<br />I prefer brass plugs which have a square wrench end as opposed to an allen-keyed or recessed plug. You can get them in any hardware store for $1. That way if it siezes in there you always have a nice chunck of material to always grab. Don't use cast-iron plugs either, they'll just sieze in there. I also put anti-seize on the brass plugs as an extra measure, I dislike contorting myself in cold weather trying to remove them when winterizing.

 

[mkast]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Instead of using a socket, try an allen wrench with a pipe on the end of it for leverage.<br />I have to agree with Bondo, don't use those drains.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

If you keep breaking your allen wrenches you might consider just drilling them out and using an "EZE-OUT" extractor.<br /><br />Once you get them out using non-allen type brass pipe-plugs as replacements is a great idea. Also use a good anti seize lube when you put them back in. (use that stuff everywhere you think you'll be removing or replacing anything in the future)<br /><br />Regards, <br /><br />Rick

 

[8x56mn]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Never siez is not a pipe dope. Use teflon tape on the threads, it acts as a lubicant to insure easy removal, then coat with a good pipe dope to seal the threads. Never ever had it fail.

 

[cjflanagan]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Wow great ideas, I'm afraid of drilling into a brand new engine and using an easy-out though; the first allen socket was on a breaker bar - it shattered. The second allen was what you would expect (two ended 90 degree 'L'shaped)in a pipe, it (the allen)bent, then shattered; all I have is propane; and I have the brass drain plugs Bondo suggested in a bag brandy-new on my bench ready to go in; and finally, 'yes' the paint is is high temperature but I'm still scared. I think what I'm going to try to do is hit it with propane and go with the traditional allen wrench, but with a craftsman quarter inch (non-allen)wrench on the allen wrench tight to the plug, then I'll put a pipe onto the regular wrench. Any bets? Here's the wager:<br />Choice 'a' it comes out, <br />Choice 'b' I get hurt,and swear like a pirate! Send in your votes coz I'm goin out there right now. <br />Thanky Yall

 

[cjflanagan]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

Well it's C they stripped out, I cant use heat because the rubber oil pan gasket is right there. So now the question is should I give up and leave it alone, or drill it and use easy-outs. Remember this is a fresh built engine and I don't want to get metal in there; or is is ok if I got a little metal in the water jacket?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Drain Plugs Yes / No?

1st Off,...... Are you Sure it's the Water Jacket drain Plugs you're wrenching on,.???<br /><br />If the Engine Builder was That Stupid,............<br />I Question the Rest of His Work............ <br /><br />Now,.......<br />If we Are talking about the Water Jacket Drain Plugs,..... 1/4" pipe threaded into the Bottom of the Block,.... Just above the oil pan rail,........<br /><br />I'd Drill them Out,+ use a 1/4" EZout..........Don't start with Too small a EZout,+ Break it Off,....<br /><br />That's a pretty big Hole,..... Use it....<br />Make Sure you drill Through the Plug,+ Not the Inner Block,.....<br />But,... You Have to get Thru the Whole Plug,.... That relieves the Tension on it,+ allows it to come out Easier......<br /><br />It otto be Easy to center on it, with the Allen depression.......<br /><br />The Fillings Won't hurt a thing,... They'll Flush Out in the 1st run around the pond.......