Ok here's the ugly and sad story ...
I have a 89 240sx with 140k miles on it. I need some pics or advice if there is a freeze plug on the drivers side of the engine and if its a big thing to replace it. In the first week of february a friend of mine was filling up the coolant in my car and he added some water ( stupid thing to do). I guess the water must have frozen up because the engine started to get overheated just after 5 minutes of driving. The car used to be fine before that. I havent driven it after that and didnt have the time to show it to a mechanic.
The last weekend i decided to have a look at it, i added some coolant and i noticed that the coolant was leaking badly from the freeze plug ( i guess its the freeze plug, it was on the drivers side of the engine). I think it must be because of the water which must have frozen up, is there any way to find out where in the damn cooling system the block may be?
I would greatly appreciate it if someone could tell me if its a big thing to replace the freeze plug and if its possible to find out where a block may be in the cooling system.
Need info on KA24E block
Freeze plugs are easy to replace as long as you can reach them. Good tool access is critical. If you can't even see it, then it may not be very easy. I recommend using a strong flashlight and an inspection mirror to see where the leak is coming from. Sorry, I'm not familiar with the KA24E in particular.
IIRC, there should be 2 freeze (expansion) plugs per side of the block, about halfway up the side, equal distance from the front and back of the engine and themselves. The drivers side is EASY to see, they sit right under the exhaust manifold (that is easy to see if you've removed/lost the heat shield). There are no more cooling lines on this side of the vehicle, so it is either the freeze plugs, a BADLY blown headgasket, or your radiator (or your radiator drain**** is still open, but that cant be....).
The 2 on the passanger side are a lot harder to get a look since there is all that intake manifold and emissions junk in the way. Easiest way to see these is from under the car with a good light. Good luck trying to change these if they are leaking. Now on the good side, there are WAY more cooling lines on the passanger side of the engine compartment, including both upper and lower radiator hoses, intake coolant lines, heater hoses, and lots more.
Best way i know of to check for a blockage in the cooling system is to start the car, let it warm up (so the thermostat opens), then sqeeze the upper radiator hose with your hand, then let go and feel if water rushes through. If so, you should be ok. Good luck finding your leak.
The 2 on the passanger side are a lot harder to get a look since there is all that intake manifold and emissions junk in the way. Easiest way to see these is from under the car with a good light. Good luck trying to change these if they are leaking. Now on the good side, there are WAY more cooling lines on the passanger side of the engine compartment, including both upper and lower radiator hoses, intake coolant lines, heater hoses, and lots more.
Best way i know of to check for a blockage in the cooling system is to start the car, let it warm up (so the thermostat opens), then sqeeze the upper radiator hose with your hand, then let go and feel if water rushes through. If so, you should be ok. Good luck finding your leak.