frost plug replacement

[philco]

i found a pin hole in one of the frost plugs in my 300 tDi motor today and was wondering if anyone knows how to change them as it would be a first for me.
Phil

[rangieman]

i found a pin hole in one of the frost plugs in my 300 tDi motor today and was wondering if anyone knows how to change them as it would be a first for me.
Phil
Frost plug ? please explain or discribe:cool:

[scarry]

welch plug:confused:

i think dats how its spelt

[p38arover]

welch plug:confused:

i think dats how its spelt

Yep, welch plug. Sometimes called core plugs or, by Americans, freeze plugs.

If one has failed, one would have wonder how many others are rusting through. Most are easy to replace but the ones at the back of the engine are not. They require the engine to come out.

Can you get easy access to the leaking plug?

See here: http://www.automedia.com/Replacing_a_Freeze_Plug/ccr20070401fp/1

[harry]

i found a pin hole in one of the frost plugs in my 300 tDi motor today and was wondering if anyone knows how to change them as it would be a first for me.
Phil
give me a ring, and we can sort out what to do to replace your welch plug.
bloody k1 w1, frost plug!!

[philco]

thanks harry, will do, us k1w1 got to keep you aussies on your toes, i think frost plug comes from the pommies

[gromit]

Philco,

Never heard them called frost plugs in the UK, always knew them as core plugs. They are used to hold the core in place when casting the block (the core being the sand moulding that forms the water passages inside the block).
According to this site Welch plug is from the US (not that you can believe everything you read on the internet ?!)
History of the Welch Plug (http://www.britishcarweek.org/welch_plug.html)

If you ever have an engine freeze solid in the cold the ice can force out the core plugs (as well as splitting radiator hoses). I've even heard people state that's what they are there for. I guess this is where the term frost plugs comes from.

Remember someone telling me that before antifreeze was readily available he would open the drain taps on the block & radiator every night and drain the system. Filled up with warm water in the morning.

Colin