Coolant leak from throttle body plug
 

1996 f-150 5l :I have coolant leak from a plug on the throttle body. There are two plugs on the throttle body (point toward passenger side at about 45 degrees). The lower one has a pin point leak when the coolant pressurizes. Ford only sells the whole throttle body... $500! Is there a way to replace this plug...I tried prying it out but it is really in there. I put epoxy putty in there as a temp fix, but not sure it will hold with the heat?
Any ideas? Should I try and replace plug, go new throttle body, or just leave it as is...epoxy included?
Thanks in advance for your input!
G

I don't have what you have, so I don't have anything to look at for reference. If you can get the plug, you can change the plug. You can leave it as is and just keep an eye on it. You can use JB Weld which is supposed to be pretty strong and very resistant to heat, and you can go to the junkyard and get a throttle body there. Depending on what it looks like, I would probably get a throttle body from the junkyard.

Do you mean that a freeze plug is leaking? If so that isn't a big deal. I had two that had pin sized holes in them last year. I took it to the shop and they installed two new plugs for very little money. You might want to change your radiator coolant and flush it a few times. Over time the coolant can go bad and corrode the plugs from the inside out. The coolant in my truck at the time hadn't been changed in over fifteen years.

Thanks!
 

I started her up, turned on the AC, and let her run. NO leak! I drove over to Auto Zone, and the guy there took a look! He said they were freeze plugs and high heat epoxy putty is the right fix. So I'll see if the putty I used will hold, if not, I'll get some the high heat kind! He also said you could drill them out and replace them but they don't have any thing to fit?
I appreciate the input from those who responded!!

I have/had the same problem. I was debating between bypassing the throttle body and plugging the hole with JB weld. However, after futher thought I decided to drill out the damaged plug and the tap the hole with 1/8 NPT tap. I then used a 1/8 NPT pug with teflon tape. No more leak.

94 f150 5.0 302 throttle body freeze plugs freeze plugs
 

Have this problem, found this thread on Google #1 result.
I also have a photo to add for future info.
I'm looking for a proper fix.
I realize this happened due to my truck froze up about a month ago from -freezing temps. and it starting leaking yesterday when it was 60f degrees


I would like to replace the freeze plugs the correct way. so if this happens again the throttle body will not crack.


here's the photo with bracket removed, and vac lines removed.
http://williamwendland.com/wp-conten...eeze-plugs.jpg


Also to mention in quick way to get home, I didn't have my tools so I used,
- Sharpie (cut into tube)
bypassed the throttle body by removing the upper and lower hoses on the manifold to reroute the coolant. a quick squeeze on the top radiator hose to make sure it wanst leaking.


it got me home fine.


http://williamwendland.com/wp-conten...1/IMG_1996.jpg

Just by pass the throttle body.connect the coolant lines directly to where they go.that's what i did.technically three coolant through the tb doesn't really do anything.

^ If it "technically" does not do anything then why in the world did ford waste the time/money routing it to the TB??

Mr scary, I like the temp rig up you did to get home! That's some good thinking on the fly right there.

That's exactly what I did, I actually went ahead and got a long coolant hose to replace the sharpie rig. it's working ok so far, but I have to agree with Rusty. even though it may be fine I may lose fuel mileage or power. but I will go ahead drive it like this for a while.


Exactly how I am thinking also.
I believe, but am not 100% correct that the coolant is to heat the air coming in. probably ok for moderate temps, but when it's cold driving 65MPH their may an issue with air temp, could be gas mileage, power, or something else. I'm only doing the bypass as a temporary fix.
And thanks for the comment really appreciate it.


Also just to add. nobody, not even FORD has freeze plugs, or a throttle body. In fact I'm starting to believe they are not even freeze plugs but a capped item that is no longer used. these plugs go very, very deep. I cannot remove them without drilling them out.


if they are freeze plugs, I don't want to plug it with a bolt that could cause it to crack if it ever freezes again.


I drove about 45 miles today temps were about 40f outside. and it did fine, hard to tell if there was a power loss due to it being windy outside.



thanks for the replies.. greatly appreciated...
any more info will also be greatly appreciated

If it's so important why don't the 4.9s have it?