Freeze plugs really aren't "freeze plugs" - the plugs are inserted into
holes left by the block casting process. The holes, or more correctly the
bridges, are needed to hold a sand core in place while the casing is being
poured. We call them freeze plugs because if we are extremely lucky one or
more will push out when the water in the block starts to freeze. But most of
the time it doesn't work this way. Most of the time the expanding ice causes
the block crack.

I hope this did not happen to your Vanagon engine!

Tom

www.towercooler.com

From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
David Vickery
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 3:23 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Oops - I let the engine freeze

We got down to minus 25 degrees (farenheit) the last couple days and I am
assuming the coolant in my 2.1 engine froze because I started it up now that
the weather is better and coolant was dripping pretty heavily from the tin
covering the passenger side head.

Anyone with experience related to this?  Is it likely just a freeze plug
that needs to be replaced now?   Are they easy to get to?  Could it be
anything else?

Thanks
Dave in Fort Collins

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