Replacing welch plugs - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

weeman · 10-13-2003, 22:57

My car has slowly been leaking coolant over the last few months. It turns out a few of the welch plugs on the exhaust side are leaking.

How hard are these to replace and what is involved? Is it as simple as draining all the coolant out, punching the plugs in sideways, pulling them out and knocking the new ones in or is there more to it than that?

Thanks,

Brendan

chrispie123 · 10-14-2003, 15:38

take the exhaust manifold off, knock them out so u can get vice grips onto em. dont use a screwdriver or u may end up scoring the housing of the welch plug, clean up the surface and put some aviation gasket sealant on both welch plug and block this makes it completely sealed and u wont have problems

ebxr8240 · 10-14-2003, 17:03

Yes belt a strong screwdriver in the middle and twist them out. What can help putting new ones in using a 20mm + socket to spread the force initially to hammer them in...Remember there is one at the back of the block as well !!! Pays to look or replace that one when replacing rear main seal/ clutch etc...

chrispie123 · 10-14-2003, 18:01

yeh i pulled my whole tranny out to check it only to find it has not long been replaced i replaced it anyway just for safe knowledge.

weeman · 10-14-2003, 18:05

Thanks,

I'll give it a go this weekend. Is the aviation sealant available at auto stores?

chrispie123 · 10-14-2003, 18:30

yeh bit is just go to repco or whateva hardwear stores also have it