Steam coming out of hole in one of my heads! (not MY head!)

[Heus33]

Finished the heater core swap this morning and took the Bronco out for drive. Came back, opened the hood and there is a steady stream of hot air coming out of the passenger side head (along with a high pressure hissing sound). I never noticed this before since the whole engine was steamy due to the bad heater core (and its only my second drive). Here are a couple of pics - Its bigger than the tip of a pen. Any way to fix this or does this call for new heads?

 

[Tito]

Thats just a freeze plug I believe, you can take it out and replace it without removing the heads. You can also do the quick and easy jb-weld trick on that plug to last a while.

 

[wildbill]

A bad soft plug easy fix and when you buy new ones go with brass they dont rust out. I would look at all to them one on each end of the head and 3 on each side of the block good luck and have fun. Bill %) ;D

 

[Heus33]

Really????? Well that just made my day!!

It didn't look to be a circular hole but more like a rusted weak spot on the head.

Can I get new freeze plugs at a place like Advance or AutoZone? Any tips to reinstalling?

 

[Doyle]

The round indention that the hole is inside of is the freeze plug. Should be available at any auto parts store. Drain your cooling system, screw a self tapping screw into the hole, and use the screw head to pry the plug out. Clean the hole, put some rtv around the edge of the new plug, and drive it in. A socket just small enough to fit in the indention works well to drive with, stop when its flush with the surface.

 

[Heus33]

Thanks guys - just read up on it in the archives. I'll tackle this tomorrow.

Feeling GREAT its not more serious than this