After lots of head scratching, i finally know whats wrong with my car, i reached in the small opening with a telescoping magnet and found the blown out freeze plug!! Man im happy, could i just put some rtv around it and reuse it?

 

The old freeze plug!

 

Subscribing to this thread - need more education on the subject.

 

No - do not re-use it. The sides of a freeze plug are slightly tapered to become a press fit in the opening. Once the plug has been used, the sides have been bent in and it will not fit as tightly as it should. They are so cheap that it's not worth the brain power to even think about it.

 

They are just core plugs so replace it with an expandable rubber plug.

 

A rubber plug? Are they all the same size? Im doing the work first thing in the morning. So its truly a no go on reusing the old plug?

 

Yes, do not use the plug.
Just an example:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rn...FQZkhgodcbgMZg

Take the plug with you and purchase the expandable plug in the correct size.

 

^^this^^

Don't reuse the old plug. Any auto parts store should carry the expandable rubber plugs. They're also easier to install correctly.

 

went to 5 stores in the city and none carried the rubber plug i needed, i might not use the old plug but i bought rtv just in case.

 

For one, PepBoys should carry them.

 

I was thinking the same thing, im gonna go to pep boys after work 2mor. Autozone had one but it was like 38mm which was too big i believe. But how am i gonna have room to get wrench down there to tighten the plug?

 

Don't know where the plug is located, but as a metal plug needs to be driven in,
a wrench would be much easier. There are some plugs that can't be accessed
without removing parts/accessories, some need to have the transmission removed,
so a little creativity may be necessary.

 

The plug is in the little crack near the front head on the passenger side of the motor, you could actually stick something in there and touch the plug hole without removing the inrtake, but you need more arm room to get it in. What size plug should be good?

 

That's strange. Especially since you live where it gets cold. Many years ago I needed one for a different car and had no problem finding one locally. I live in Florida.

I wouldn't use a wrench. I'd use a socket with an extension.

 

Measure the metal plug and look for an expandable that fits that measurement.
Socket may work, but I seem to rely the Ratcheting Wrenches more and more as
they have become very useful.

 

This is a good opportunity for a little upgrading. Carbon Fiber freeze plug!

Just kidding. But if you can't find a plug to fit, look into an engine block heater that replaces a freeze plug. That might make for a good replacement and pleasant upgrade for the winter months!

https://www.autocoolingsolutions.com...xima-3.0L-3.5L

 

I found a few rubber plugs, but they are slightly bigger than the oem plug according to the computer, could i still use one?

 

The stock freeze plug size is 28mm, i just found an expendable plug 25-28mm in sizs! So it ahould fit.

 

After months of stressing, car is fixed! Im just gonna post here what i went through just in case someone else goes through this. In order to get to the plug, the intake plenum and the lower intake has to come off. Than u will be able to easily get to the problem area. DO NOT USE A RUBBER EXPENDABLE FREEZE PLUG! It will blow right back out, you have to use a 28mm metal cup style freeze plug, you can also use either red loctite or high strength metal to metal gorrila expoxy to go around the freeze plug before u put it in. Theres not alot of info on this topic online, so if anyone have questions, feel free to ask em here or pm me!

 

how did you get the freeze plug back in?
i have an 02 maxima vq35 and the plug on the passenger side came out .

 

Hello,

I was just curious, did you really have to pull the engine's intake manifold to replace the plug?

Thanks