Chalk this up to bonehead move #2. After coming back from Roebling Road on Sunday I left the car on the trailer overnight. Outside. In the cold. 20' cold.

Next day I trailered it over to the shop so we could install braided oil cooler lines.

Without thinking, it was cranked up. Not by me mind you - but nonetheless it was started. Well water started spewing out of the back of the engine. Great.. freeze plugs popped out. And I just had the tranny out to install a new 4puck clutch.

Pull the transmission, replace the plugs - and then pressurize the cooling system. Its leaking. Not on the floor this time - but internally. Water in the oil pan, now. Nice. I pulled the plugs and they are clean - so the combustion chamber is good.

Any thoughts or ideas what this could be? Maybe something on the front of the engine - or the housing seals - I dunno.

Please help

 

Both the front and rear irons have freeze plugs. I would say you are lucky so far that the coolant seals are still good. Since this is a race car, the engine bay should be pretty bare. I would pull the engine for the plug replacement in the front irons. This will assure that the endplay is correct and the torrington bearings remain in place.

 

Would the absence of front freeze plugs cause the coolant to leak internally - into the oil pan? I just assumed it would leak outside the engine as was the case with the missing rear plugs.

The engine bay is bare - and the front side is very easily accessible.

 

The front freeze plugs are actually behind the front cover where the pulley comes out the front of the block and goes directly into the oil pan. This is why you would see water in the oil pan and not leaking out of the engine. I bet if you waited long enough you would see it on the ground. The major problem also is if you get water in your oil and it circulates it can freeze in the oil and cause clogs in the E shaft or oil injection. I would pull the engine replace the freeze plugs, check all alignment as recommended above, then flush the oil and water chambers with the necessary chemicals. As you could have blown a freeze plug or you could have cracked the water jacket on the front half of the block or bottom above the oil pan. Then you have verified that there is no problems with oil contamination, engine is still within specs, and everything is sound and complete.

 

Good information. I'm pulling the engine and will have a chance this weekend to remove the front cover and check/replace the plugs.

What's your suggestion for flushing the oil and water chambers - which chemicals, and so forth. If there is a FAQ - I'd greatly appreciate it.

There is a SCCA race at Rockingham on the 10th of March. Prior to posting on the board, I had thought all chances were lost in making the event. But it seems I may have it all back together by Sunday. Thanks again