Freeze Plug Replacement Cost
As water freezes, it will expand, and without antifreeze, the water being pumped through your car is prone to freezing, ultimately causing problems with your engine block if it were to freeze.
Luckily, an engine block will not crack as long as a high-quality freeze plug is installed and working properly as they will pop out when the freezing occurs, preventing your engine block from cracking.
These parts are designed to not only prevent cracks from appearing within your engine, it can also help reduce coolant leaks from starting.
As the freeze plug rusts, becomes damaged and/or doesn’t work as needed, your engine block could crack, leading to unnecessary spills and leaks, causing a lot of problems in the future.
How much would it cost for a freeze plug replacement?
The costs of replacing your freeze plugs will greatly depend on the type of vehicle you drive, the exact freeze plug as there are multiple plugs in various locations on the engine, and the mechanic/dealership you use to perform the repair. Researching online, an easy to reach freeze plug could cost anywhere from $200 to $400, whereas a freeze plug that requires the mechanic to lift the engine or transmission out can cost anywhere from $900 to more than $1,800. In some cases, the engine or transmission will not necessarily need to be removed, but a good chunk of the engine parts may need to be taken apart in order to gain access.
As mentioned, each location can dictate the amount of labor time required to replace the freeze plug. While the part itself can cost as little as little as $2, it’s the labor which will greatly affect the price tag. On forum thread we found on nc4x4.com, for example, the dealership noted they would have to pull the entire engine out in order to fix freeze plug, and because of this, his total bill would be north of $1,800.
Someone on a RepairPal.com Q&A thread noted he was quoted $1,574 to replace his rear freeze plug because of its location.
In some cases, if you’re lucky and the leak is extremely slow, then a block seal compound could work, but your results will vary. If going this route, a good block seal compound on the market will cost about $15, but do not consider a long-term fix as it will eventually wear away.
The repair process
Once the mechanic gains access to the freeze plug, here or she will hammer it into the block with either a screwdriver or a large punch. Doing so will allow it to pop through the engine so that he or she can pry it out with a pair of pliers.
When the plug is removed, the hole will be cleaned with a piece of sandpaper to help remove the corrosion and older sealant, and the new freeze plug will be installed with some sealant around.
To install the new freeze plug, a special tool is required in order to do so, but EconoFix.com does note you can use a large socket, but by doing this, it could cause damage so it’s not recommended.
The entire process, depending on the exact location, can take as little as one hour to much more than eight hours if multiple parts need to be removed.
What is a freeze plug?
All vehicles will vary, and the freeze plug will either be located on the side, back or beneath the engine block. If you look closely at your engine block, you will see a line of circular depressions which are about an inch and a half in diameter and about a quarter of an inch deep, according to EconoFix.com. These holes in the side of the engine block will be plugged with what’s known as the freeze plug or sometimes referred to as an expansion or frost plug.
The freeze plug will act as a backup if the antifreeze wasn’t running through your car. As water can freeze, it can expand, as we mentioned above, and in order to prevent this expansion, these plugs will pop out to prevent this from happening. If the water is able to freeze inside of your engine block, the block can crack, eventually destroying the motor.
Signs of a faulty freeze plug
In most cases, your car will start to leak coolant, and depending on the severity of the leak, a slow leak may mean a pinhole-sized hole, pointing signs to a faulty freeze plug. As mentioned, these freeze plugs are located in various parts of your engine, but for the most part, they are located on the side of the block, the back of the block and between the transmission and engine. With these various locations, the point here is that most leaks will run down the side of the engine as it makes its way to your driveway. If you open your hood and see fluid leaking down the side of your engine or the bell housing between the transmission and engine, then it’s a good sign you will need to repair or replace the part.
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