blew frost plug-could there be damage?
youngnip
12-22-2007, 09:47 AM
Hello everyone,
Been to this sight many times. Thanks for all the info. Good job!!!
We drive a 91 lasbre, nice car high miles works great. i keep up all the service on it. Last night my wife was coming home from work and overheated the car till it stalled. I to the rescue discovered no coolant in the system at all. I performed the usuall checks and could not figure out where all the coolant went. Figuring an easy fix the drip being in the back I thought bypass valve fitting, hose perhaps.Upon inspection this morning i discovered one of the frost plugs was blown out.its about an inch in diameter.it looks like it was machine pressed in place by the looks of the other one. More likely from corrosion, and very difficult to get at.this area of the motor is the back lower side of the motor and the water jacket is very large there. so basically the coolant got dumped.Probably have to lift motor to get at because the main brace and tranny housing is in front.Half inch of space.so basically on her way home ,which was a short distance ( 4 miles)is there a possibility that the motor could be damaged. ? what do I look for. How tough is the 3800 type 1?When my mechanic fixes this any thing else I should inspect or replace once he's got the motor up.could the water pump be damaged running the motor that hot till it stalled.what else could possibly have gotten cooked?The motor was piping hot.Is this a common thing that happens. Nevr seen this before.
Any input would be appreciated.
thanks Steve
Been to this sight many times. Thanks for all the info. Good job!!!
We drive a 91 lasbre, nice car high miles works great. i keep up all the service on it. Last night my wife was coming home from work and overheated the car till it stalled. I to the rescue discovered no coolant in the system at all. I performed the usuall checks and could not figure out where all the coolant went. Figuring an easy fix the drip being in the back I thought bypass valve fitting, hose perhaps.Upon inspection this morning i discovered one of the frost plugs was blown out.its about an inch in diameter.it looks like it was machine pressed in place by the looks of the other one. More likely from corrosion, and very difficult to get at.this area of the motor is the back lower side of the motor and the water jacket is very large there. so basically the coolant got dumped.Probably have to lift motor to get at because the main brace and tranny housing is in front.Half inch of space.so basically on her way home ,which was a short distance ( 4 miles)is there a possibility that the motor could be damaged. ? what do I look for. How tough is the 3800 type 1?When my mechanic fixes this any thing else I should inspect or replace once he's got the motor up.could the water pump be damaged running the motor that hot till it stalled.what else could possibly have gotten cooked?The motor was piping hot.Is this a common thing that happens. Nevr seen this before.
Any input would be appreciated.
thanks Steve
maxwedge
12-22-2007, 09:52 AM
If she ran it till it seized/stalled from overheating, that engine most likely will not recover, galled cylinder walls and /or bearing wear from overheated oil and metal.
LeSabre97mint
12-22-2007, 08:51 PM
Steve
Does the engine turn over? If it's locked up and you like the car put a good used engine in.
Regards
Dan
Does the engine turn over? If it's locked up and you like the car put a good used engine in.
Regards
Dan
youngnip
12-24-2007, 11:02 AM
Thanks Max and Dan for your input.
The motor does turn over all right. I did change oil on the car and Ill have my motor guy listen to the motor. Further investigation back up the road i can see where the fluid began to blow out. About an mile back. She was just puttering along and thats a good thing. I was under the car and could not figure the problem. I finally chased up the block heater plug and there it was tucked back in behing the tranny housing. dumb for missing that.The motor has over 200k on it and hopefully its loose enough not to sustained any damage. (I do own a 97 I like alot too).so a new block heater is going in .30 bucks. The old plug , the butterfly retainer failed and the presssure blew it out. it looks like its jsut white metal . The new pliug retainer clip is steel.so get that in and in time will reveal if theres any damage.My motor guy said these 3800 are fairly bullet proof. Doesnt seem like a just end for a motor thats been good so long to us. Fingers are crossed.
Thanks again for all the help. the site has helped out so much for wise maintenace and great tips.
Steve
The motor does turn over all right. I did change oil on the car and Ill have my motor guy listen to the motor. Further investigation back up the road i can see where the fluid began to blow out. About an mile back. She was just puttering along and thats a good thing. I was under the car and could not figure the problem. I finally chased up the block heater plug and there it was tucked back in behing the tranny housing. dumb for missing that.The motor has over 200k on it and hopefully its loose enough not to sustained any damage. (I do own a 97 I like alot too).so a new block heater is going in .30 bucks. The old plug , the butterfly retainer failed and the presssure blew it out. it looks like its jsut white metal . The new pliug retainer clip is steel.so get that in and in time will reveal if theres any damage.My motor guy said these 3800 are fairly bullet proof. Doesnt seem like a just end for a motor thats been good so long to us. Fingers are crossed.
Thanks again for all the help. the site has helped out so much for wise maintenace and great tips.
Steve
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