Freeze (Core) Plug Question

[ycartf]

In doing some recent work on our 1997 2.2L Camry, I noticed one of the freeze plugs started weeping. It was the larger of them on the front (with a "2" cast in the block near it). I knocked it out and replaced it with a rubber expansion plug (that has been holding fine). I want to replace this plug with a metal one before our daughter takes this car off to college in a few months. I figured I might as well replace all of them (since they're the same age) while I have the exhaust manifold off, and noticed I will also need to go back into the timing belt area and remove the water pump to get to the one behind it.

So here are my questions:

1. Are there more than the 4 freeze plugs in the front of the block (such as any in the back)?

2. If there are more than the front 4, wouldn't you leave them for now?

3. Would you leave the one behind the water pump for now? (To keep from removing the water pump and all - I just did the timing belt, water pump, pulleys, seals, everything).

Thanks for any advice or opinions.

Tracy

[Mister_Perkins]

There are 4 on the back side, 4 on the front, and one on the timing side, and one on the rear main seal side.

all together 10.

If your timing ones look alright, i wouldn't worry about it right away. Have it ordered and when you change out your timing the next interval, change that as well.

Pictures:

Back side of motor :



Front side / Rear Main Seal Side. As you can see on the picture, where the motor is mounted, there is a shiny freeze plug located just behind the mounting plate

[ycartf]

Thanks a lot Mister Perkins, those were very helpful.

So, obviously it would seem, I should just leave the end ones and back ones (that would require SO much work to get to with removing the engine)? What about the one under the water pump on the front? Would you remove all the TB and WP stuff to replace just that one? I know I will naturally replace the other front three while I will have the exhaust manifold off to do the larger one that had leaked.

Thanks again.

[Mister_Perkins]

Originally Posted by ycartf

Thanks a lot Mister Perkins, those were very helpful.

So, obviously it would seem, I should just leave the end ones and back ones (that would require SO much work to get to with removing the engine)? What about the one under the water pump on the front? Would you remove all the TB and WP stuff to replace just that one? I know I will naturally replace the other front three while I will have the exhaust manifold off to do the larger one that had leaked.

Thanks again.

Well that would be what you would have to do to change out the plugs on the timing side. If they are not leaking though, I wouldn't worry too much about them..

Most of the time the plugs in front and rear weep first, because of rust. The rear main seal side and timing side rarely leak because they are not exposed to the elements as much (Underneath transmission housing and underneath timing cover).

I would honestly just change out the front ones and keep an eye on the back ones. I can almost guarantee that your side ones will almost never go bad


The motor pictured probably has over 150,000 miles on it and the side freeze plugs look almost new