uggyea81 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I just bought a 81 gl wagon. bought it knowing it had a leak. i drained the milkshake out of the oil pan and filter and put new oil and filter and ran it with nothing in the rad. (it was 23 degrees out) it ran great! turned it off and started putting coolant in it. rad would not fill up, but the oil dip stick did... and i can hear water running near the right head when i was trying to fill it. sure enough water in the oil. is this just a head gasket leak? or worse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soobies Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 only one way to find out is pull the heads out and check for the cracks in the heads and could be just gasket.. it could be anything but only one way to find out again.. pull the heads out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uggyea81 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 i thought as much. bought a head gasket set on rockauto. i really hope it fixes it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 More than likely just popped out a core ("freeze") plug. Pull off the valve covers and take a look. Pretty easy fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Freeze plug - accessible under the valve covers. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uggyea81 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 More than likely just popped out a core ("freeze") plug. Pull off the valve covers and take a look. Pretty easy fix. and that would let water into the crank case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Freeze plugs plug openings into the water jacket of the head. These ones are under the valve covers, so if they pop out the water flows straight into the valve cover area and drains into the oil pan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Cold weather + water draining into the crankcase as quickly as you can put it into the radiator + flowing water noise under the valve cover = popped freeze plug(s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uggyea81 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 thanks guys! i'll look at it when i get it to my shop. if your right i owe ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uggyea81 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 so i pulled the valve cover this morning. and poured water in to the rad. and guess where the water came out?! thats right, the back freeze plug! still have to pull the motor to get to it. but a lot cheaper fix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I did mine last spring (which is why I knew ), and was able to do it in the car without any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uggyea81 Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 I did mine last spring (which is why I knew ), and was able to do it in the car without any problems. really? its the far back on under the rocker arm assembly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Remove the rocker assembly (no you won't disturb the head gaskets) - there are access holes in the frame rails to pull the bolts through. You can probably do it with it in the car. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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