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| Freeze Plug problem (Page 1/2) |
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TurboGN
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JUL 19, 05:47 PM
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I have a 1988 Fiero with an L32 3800SC in it. Last fall just before putting it away I lost all the coolant while backing out of my driveway. In the driveway I found one of those rubber freeze plugs that you tighten in place. I didn't have time to fix it before the first snowfall so I left it till good weather came back. I just took a look, and all 4 (original) freeze plugs are still in place. I can't find any other place where a freeze plug would be used. Any ideas where this popped out from?
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Patrick
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JUL 19, 06:30 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by TurboGN:
I just took a look, and all 4 (original) freeze plugs are still in place. I can't find any other place where a freeze plug would be used. Any ideas where this popped out from?
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This may or may not be relevant...
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AI Overview
An L32 3800 engine has five freeze plugs, also known as core plugs or expansion plugs. These plugs are typically located on the sides and front of the engine block. There are two on each side and one in the front. Some engines may have an additional plug if a block heater is installed, potentially bringing the total to six.
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TurboGN
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JUL 19, 09:01 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Patrick:
This may or may not be relevant...
[QUOTE]
AI Overview
An L32 3800 engine has five freeze plugs, also known as core plugs or expansion plugs. These plugs are typically located on the sides and front of the engine block. There are two on each side and one in the front. Some engines may have an additional plug if a block heater is installed, potentially bringing the total to six.
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[/QUOTE]
Would you happen to know of any pictures showing the extra 2 freeze plugs?
Everything I've found has only showed the 4, 2 front, and 2 back that I can see are intact.
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HarryT
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JUL 20, 03:04 AM
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If you lost all your coolant, why not start putting water in and see where it comes out.
Harry
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fieroguru
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JUL 20, 06:38 AM
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SInce you have an 88, the heater core return to the water pump would be plugged off, which would have been done as part of the swap.
That might be where the rubber expansion plug came from. GM does not use the rubber expansion plugs for freeze plugs.
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TurboGN
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JUL 20, 06:54 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by HarryT:
If you lost all your coolant, why not start putting water in and see where it comes out.
Harry |
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I want to avoid having coolant/water dripping on me the whole time I'm trying to find and fix it.[This message has been edited by TurboGN (edited 07-20-2025).]
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TurboGN
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JUL 20, 06:58 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by fieroguru:
SInce you have an 88, the heater core return to the water pump would be plugged off, which would have been done as part of the swap.
That might be where the rubber expansion plug came from. GM does not use the rubber expansion plugs for freeze plugs.
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What is the best way to get to the return?
On mine it's pretty tight against the side of the car, not much room to get to it.
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fieroguru
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JUL 20, 07:28 AM
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The 3800 swapers normally replace the O-ring plastic hose barbs for the heater core supply and return. They are on the rear right corner of the engine (when you stand behind the car facing the engine) and in the general area where the dog bone used to go.
How much room you have there will determine if the engine has to come out to fix it or not.
On the chassis side, the passenger coolant tube has a barb where the heater core return hose joins it just before the main water pump supply coolant hose is attached. This is why the heater core return hose does not continue into the engine bay and a plug is installed at the engine for the unused hose barb on the 88s (and 87s).
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TurboGN
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JUL 20, 08:26 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by fieroguru:
The 3800 swapers normally replace the O-ring plastic hose barbs for the heater core supply and return. They are on the rear right corner of the engine (when you stand behind the car facing the engine) and in the general area where the dog bone used to go.
How much room you have there will determine if the engine has to come out to fix it or not.
On the chassis side, the passenger coolant tube has a barb where the heater core return hose joins it just before the main water pump supply coolant hose is attached. This is why the heater core return hose does not continue into the engine bay and a plug is installed at the engine for the unused hose barb on the 88s (and 87s). |
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Always my luck, the part that costs $0.25 fails and costs $4,000 to replace.[This message has been edited by TurboGN (edited 07-20-2025).]
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TurboGN
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JUL 20, 12:22 PM
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Well, I actually lucked out. On the side of the engine right behind the water pump pulley, I could see a shiny hole. I was just barely able to get my hand in there to insert a new rubber freeze plug and get it tightened.
Thank you for everyone's help.
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