Not Hummer related but still need help....

[GLBLWARMR]

I just picked up a 98 Dodge Durango "cheap" for my oldest boy when he gets his license here shortly. The guy said that a coolant leak just started. Well I went through the cooling system and found that the two rear freeze plugs on the side of the block were leaking. Well I am about to take off to Thailand for 2 weeks and wanted to do a quick fix until I returned to spend more time fixing the problem. Well tonight I took epoxy puddy and filled around the two leaking plugs. Those are now fixed but I am still loosing coolant towards the back of the engine where the tranny bolts to the engine. I have looked on line and cannot get a guaranteed answer as to the freeze plug locations of the Dodge 318 engine. I have heard that there are two on each side of the engine block and possibly two more on the rear of the engine where I am still leaking. Everything else is in great running order in this truck.

I am just checking if there is anyone on here that might be able to tell me if there are freeze plugs on the back of this engine and possibly provide a diagram. I looked at the local parts stores for the chiltons manual but they are not in stock right now and there is no point in ordering since I will be gone for two weeks. Thanks.

Russ

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by GLBLWARMR

I just picked up a 98 Dodge Durango "cheap" for my oldest boy when he gets his license here shortly. The guy said that a coolant leak just started. Well I went through the cooling system and found that the two rear freeze plugs on the side of the block were leaking. Well I am about to take off to Thailand for 2 weeks and wanted to do a quick fix until I returned to spend more time fixing the problem. Well tonight I took epoxy puddy and filled around the two leaking plugs. Those are now fixed but I am still loosing coolant towards the back of the engine where the tranny bolts to the engine. I have looked on line and cannot get a guaranteed answer as to the freeze plug locations of the Dodge 318 engine. I have heard that there are two on each side of the engine block and possibly two more on the rear of the engine where I am still leaking. Everything else is in great running order in this truck.

I am just checking if there is anyone on here that might be able to tell me if there are freeze plugs on the back of this engine and possibly provide a diagram. I looked at the local parts stores for the chiltons manual but they are not in stock right now and there is no point in ordering since I will be gone for two weeks. Thanks.

Russ

I'm pretty sure there's two in the back that require pulling the tranny to get to. I'll try to see if there is any more info available.

[lennyrebel]

Yes there are 2 frost plugs at the back of 318. You have to drop transmission. They are relatively low on back of block so if you use engine flush or anything like that it lays their and corrodes through frost plug. When I found mine I was replacing transmission so I sort of discovered by accident. I made frost plugs out of 2 block heaters with the o -ring around plug body. Much easier to tighten screw when installing then trying to drive steel bung in. I cut off heater portion. Did I say I was working at Chrysler then and they helped with parts. Regards lennyrebel

[GLBLWARMR]

Originally Posted by lennyrebel

Yes there are 2 frost plugs at the back of 318. You have to drop transmission. They are relatively low on back of block so if you use engine flush or anything like that it lays their and corrodes through frost plug. When I found mine I was replacing transmission so I sort of discovered by accident. I made frost plugs out of 2 block heaters with the o -ring around plug body. Much easier to tighten screw when installing then trying to drive steel bung in. I cut off heater portion. Did I say I was working at Chrysler then and they helped with parts. Regards lennyrebel

If the two on the back of the engine are about level with the manifold then those are not leaking. What I found tonight was my puddy job did not take. Fluid is still pushing out around the two rear freeze plugs on the side of the block. I pulled the puddy off of both sides and resealed them. The leak has slowed tremendously. There is still a slight leak. What is your recommendation about radiator stop leak? Do you think if I dumped a jug in the radiator that this may slow or stop the remainder? The leak is a drip from the freeze plug about once every ten seconds. I am going to pull the plugs and replace them once I come back from Thailand but is there anything else that I maybe able to do so it is not leaking as much? I do appreciate the help with this.

Russ

[lennyrebel]

I'm a big believer in Barr's stop leak. That would probably hold you for a couple of months. It does tend to plug rad a little leading to overheating problems next. When I found my frost plugs leaking ,I touched them with a screwdriver and they disintegrated. It was only the two between block and bellhousing of tranny. Transmission wsan't to heavy, I put car on ramps , removed driveshaft and dropped tranny on my stonmach and wheeled out on creeper. I always used permatex aviation cement around frost plugs when driving them in. Another helpful trick is to remove 15 psi rad cap and replace with a 7psi cap. UNless your crossing desert pulling a trailer it shouldn't overheat and you have cut press. in half on all weak spots. Regards lennyrebel.

[GLBLWARMR]

Originally Posted by PhilD

Stop leak stuff can also plug you heater core, so you could loose the heater and have to replace the heater core too. Are they so difficult to change? Or can't you get someone else to do it?

Nah they are not that hard to change. I have a clean shot at the one on the passengers side. In order to have enough room on the drivers side to tap a new plug in I would have to pull the starter. Very easy. I was just trying to jerry rig a fix for a couple of weeks until I return from Thailand. I have OCD when in comes to a leaking vehicle. I do not rest till the leak goes away. I just do not have enough time to change the plugs out before I leave.

[GLBLWARMR]

Originally Posted by lennyrebel

I'm a big believer in Barr's stop leak. That would probably hold you for a couple of months. It does tend to plug rad a little leading to overheating problems next. When I found my frost plugs leaking ,I touched them with a screwdriver and they disintegrated. It was only the two between block and bellhousing of tranny. Transmission wsan't to heavy, I put car on ramps , removed driveshaft and dropped tranny on my stonmach and wheeled out on creeper. I always used permatex aviation cement around frost plugs when driving them in. Another helpful trick is to remove 15 psi rad cap and replace with a 7psi cap. UNless your crossing desert pulling a trailer it shouldn't overheat and you have cut press. in half on all weak spots. Regards lennyrebel.

Yeah mine are just leaking around the the sides of the plug and the block. The rest of the plug looks fine. Thanks