[Camry-rulez]

Hi... My car was standing in my garage for about 3 week's and in the cooling system was only demineralized water. The weather temperature outside the garage was about - 5 degC and in the garage there was about -1 degC. After this 3 weeks I wanted to start my engine and I check'ed how much water was there in the cooling system. And I realized that there is no water in the system;/ I looked under my car and saw this think:

I think it is this part that is arowed:

Why is this plug jumped out the block? what function has it? and can I plug it again in the engine block?

 

[touringcamry]

I don't know what that thing is, but if the water in the engine froze, the expansion could push that plug out.

 

[360glitch]

Yikes... anti-free FTW?

 

[fdexclpl]

It is a freeze plug. That is what they are supposed to do. It probably saved your block from cracking.

 

[Camry-rulez]

OK. and should I put a new plug or can I use this one that jumped out the block?

 

[Jeff Lange]

Use a new one. Don't reuse frost plugs.

 

[Mike Gerber]

It is a freeze plug. That is what they are supposed to do. It probably saved your block from cracking.

Bingo. fdesclpl is correct. It's called a freeze plug and they have been put in engine blocks for as long as I can remember. (I remember having one rust out on my 1957 Plymouth.) It's purpose is to pop out if the coolant in the engine block freezes. Remember, water expands when it freezes. It expands with considerable force. If your engine didn't have these freeze plugs as protection and it frooze, the engine block would crack. Incidently, the radiator, heater core, and rubber hoses in the cooling system have no such protection. Many of these components could now be damaged. The only thing you can do now is to have the car towed in to some heated garage and let it thaw out for a few days. Then have another freeze plug installed where that one popped out. Then the cooling system must be refilled with at least a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water and then run and bled of all air. Then check for leaks and hope for the best. I'll keep my fingers crosssed for you.

Good luck.

Mike

 

[toyomoho]

The block is a made of cast iron poured into molds made of sand. Once the block is cast, sand is removed through the holes where these plugs are installed. They plugs are not there to prevent the block from cracking if the water freezes. Thus make sure there is no other damage to the block from the water freezing.

 

[Camry-rulez]

And how can I check it? How do I know that there is no damage to the block?

 

[blackhawk]

wow that neat

 

[xtremeskier97]

The block is a made of cast iron poured into molds made of sand. Once the block is cast, sand is removed through the holes where these plugs are installed. They plugs are not there to prevent the block from cracking if the water freezes. Thus make sure there is no other damage to the block from the water freezing.

LoL...no offense..but the Freeze Plug is right. Though they may HAVE been used for what you said...its main purpose is to do exactly what it hopefully did...save the block. Look all over the internet...that IS a freeze plug....used to prevent damage to the block in case of freezing.

 

[Camry-rulez]

i case of reezing, or in case there is a lot o pressure in the cooling system? can it be? beacaue I have this problem that there is a lot o pressure in the cooling sys. and after starting the enigine there are bubbles coming out from the radiator when the cap is opened.
I have describet it in this thread ---> http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232727

 

[megamac83]

alot of bubbles sound like a head gasket you might want to check your compression when you get a chance!!!!

 

[Mike Gerber]

i case of reezing, or in case there is a lot o pressure in the cooling system? can it be? beacaue I have this problem that there is a lot o pressure in the cooling sys. and after starting the enigine there are bubbles coming out from the radiator when the cap is opened.
I have describet it in this thread ---> http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232727

If you are real lucky, there is air in the cooling system from a coolant leak somewhere or from installing a cooling system component and not properly bleeding all the air out of the cooling system. You need to pressure test the system for leaks and hopefully you will find one that you can repair, then properly bleed the system of all air. You may also find that it is a blown head gasket.

Good luck.

Mike

 

[Camry-rulez]

How should I properly bleed the system of all air? How does it work?

 

[Hajoca]

I doubt that the engine being started after the freeze plug popped out will cause damage, as you describe as the engine was not run for long or at all.

Just fill it up, and then start it, it will cost you antifreeze, water, a new freeze plug and some sealant. If you really want, install freeze plug with sealant, let it 'dry' and then fill it with coolant and use a pressure pump and test the system.

 

[Mike Gerber]

How should I properly bleed the system of all air? How does it work?

Refill the coolant with the proper mixture of antifreeze and water with the car cold. Be sure to also fill the overflow tank. Then park the car with the front of the car slightly inclined. The slope of the average driveway should be sufficient. Put the heat on it's highest temperature and turn the selector to the defroster position. Remove the radiator cap and start the car. Let it idle for at least 45 mintues to an hour this way. Air bubbles will rise up out of the hole where the radiator cap usually goes. After 45 minutes to an hour, reinstall the radiator cap. Drive the car normally for a couple of days and then recheck the coolant level. It can go down further after a bit of driving as a few more air bubbles will still find their way out of the cooling system through the overflow tank. Remember, this is all based on the fact that there is no cooling system leak. Be sure to also check for a leak or the coolant will go down again and air will be induced back in to the system.

Mike

 

[Kep]

I would add that it would be a good idea to closely monitor the temperature gauge while you are doing this and for the first day or so to make sure that you don't inadvertantly overheat the engine

Kep