Hey All,

 

The car is a '89 GL Sedan with hi/lo 5 speed. Last winter,without enough anti-freeze, something let loose in the engine. I'm wondering if you can tell me what freezes and cracks and or pops out first. Block, head, freeze plug? You pour water in the radiator and it comes out the oil drain hole in the oil pan. Right now I've flushed out the oil and the engine still runs just fine. I don't have the radiator in it and drained all the water/anti-freeze.

 

This engine would turn 7500 RPM and I've never heard it tick, even now. It came from West Virginia and shows 208 K on the odometer. It hasn't overheated. Question is, what busted loose?

 

Q

Head gasket....

 

Block, head,

 

Either or all of the above plus head gasket. Head gasket would actually be at the bottom of my list.

 

Feeze plug would just drain the water on the ground from the outside of the motor, not into the crank case

 

 

My vote would be for cracked case/block

Hey guys,

 

Just thought someone has been there done that an I'm really curious to see what it is. I'll pull it out when I get the time and report what I find. I really messed up and this is the first engine I've ever done that to. I've got another I can put in it.

 

Q

 

Either or all of the above plus head gasket. Head gasket would actually be at the bottom of my list.

 

Feeze plug would just drain the water on the ground from the outside of the motor, not into the crank case

 

 

My vote would be for cracked case/block

The freeze plugs are in the top of the head, they will dump the oil right into the crankcase if they let loose. Come on calebz, what are you thinking! you just had one apart for goodness sake. :-p I think you have too much volvo on the brain.

 

Doh.. you are absolutely right.. time to lose the volvo and the camry. Its messing up my soob skills

Hey All,

 

The car is a '89 GL Sedan with hi/lo 5 speed. Last winter,without enough anti-freeze, something let loose in the engine. I'm wondering if you can tell me what freezes and cracks and or pops out first. Block, head, freeze plug? You pour water in the radiator and it comes out the oil drain hole in the oil pan. Right now I've flushed out the oil and the engine still runs just fine. I don't have the radiator in it and drained all the water/anti-freeze.

 

This engine would turn 7500 RPM and I've never heard it tick, even now. It came from West Virginia and shows 208 K on the odometer. It hasn't overheated. Question is, what busted loose?

 

Q

Hey Gang,

 

Update. I pulled the motor out yesterday, dropped the oil pan and two freeze plugs were in the pan. One freeze plug out of each head...the ones under the valve covers. Back when this was originally posted, i drained the milkshake in the oil pan, removed the radiator, and put new oil and filter in it. I have started it up over the last year and changed the oil and filter two more times. The motor still looks good inside and runs great.

Doug

Never could understand Subaru's reasoning behind putting freeze plugs in that area. Good that you found them....

 

You still need to flush the oil system out though. Multiple oil changes won't remove all of the anti-freeze residue, and you need to get that stuff out of there. The crank bearings don't like anti-freeze, period... Rislone makes a flush for the oil system, and it's good stuff, albeit pricey in my opinion. Myself, I use 3 quarts kerosene with 1 quart oil. Pour it in the crankcase and run engine until you can feel some heat in the upper radiator hose. Shut off engine and drain oil pan. Re-fill with your coice of oil and change the filter.

Never could understand Subaru's reasoning behind putting freeze plugs in that area. Good that you found them....

 

You still need to flush the oil system out though. Multiple oil changes won't remove all of the anti-freeze residue, and you need to get that stuff out of there. The crank bearings don't like anti-freeze, period... Rislone makes a flush for the oil system, and it's good stuff, albeit pricey in my opinion. Myself, I use 3 quarts kerosene with 1 quart oil. Pour it in the crankcase and run engine until you can feel some heat in the upper radiator hose. Shut off engine and drain oil pan. Re-fill with your coice of oil and change the filter.

 

Hi Tom,

 

That's good advise however...this engine is going to get torn down and rings, seals, belts, heads all get worked over. I'm planning and EJ swap for the near future for this car.

 

Doug