1992 Pontiac Sunbird Freezeplug-Coolant blows

Tiny
SADRANIS
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 PONTIAC SUNBIRD
  • 3.1L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
Six months ago I was on highway and accelerated rapidly (showing off) but then I heard a loud pop and white smoke behind the car, temp. Gauge rising. I pulled over and shut engine off quick, it was overheating. There was no coolant left at all- it basically exploded. I eventually figured out that the frost/freezeplug had blown from one of the hoses. I replaced it five months ago and drove a little more conservatively, not revving past 4000. There were other issues, but this never came up again until last week. Car is being stored at family farm for winter. Went up to start it and revved a bit, almost immediately the same thing happened. This is a very dangerous problem and I really don't know why it keeps blowing. Please help! If it matters, the current heater core is blown and so is the thermostat- that may have something to do with it?
Tuesday, December 30th, 2014 AT 12:49 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If it's the same freeze plug see if there is a crack around it, if it's another use blue Loctite when you install the new one.
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Tuesday, December 30th, 2014 AT 12:50 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Oh and it may have a blown head gasket causing this.
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Tuesday, December 30th, 2014 AT 12:50 PM
Tiny
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Oh okay will do! I suppose fixing the thermostat and heater core will make it less likely to happen too. Do you mean it will cause a blown head or it's a result of?
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Wednesday, December 31st, 2014 AT 9:31 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
The blown freeze plug could be from a blown head gasket. But as old as the car is it's problay rusted through is why it leaked. Fixing heater core and t stat will just make it run without leaks and same temp as it should be
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Wednesday, December 31st, 2014 AT 10:25 AM

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