I missed the dyno day due to serious water leakage. I thought it was the oil cooler/warmer hose under the intake manifold, but after bypassing that with a long piece of hose, water is still streaming down the side of the engine and I can't tell where it's coming from.

I suspect freeze plugs have died a corrosive death. [here is where you berate me for my insufficient coolant maintenance]

Anyway.

I tried a local vato zone for freeze plugs but they only had one size. and in steel. I would like to try brass for fun and profit but I'm curious where you get specific sizes of brass freeze plugs. everywhere I look sells them as a set for a friggin small block or some garbage and doesn't list sizes.

i want 30 and 35mm on hand before I take anything apart. 20 would be nice too in case it's one in the head.

I saw a thread on miata.net where Ben said he replaced one... so apparently it's not unheard of.

lame though.

 

BPD Mazda 1.8 DOHC 16-Valve Engine Parts

bottom of page.. may be useful, unless you're trying to find them local/fast

 

wheres the results from the dyno day?

 

Disappointed. Well let us know. BTW What oil cooler are you running?

 

ever used parts dinosaur? I found that site but can't say i intrinsically trust the first hit on google with the answer.

dyno day thread?

 

Sure it isn't IM bolts coming bit loose and the leak coming from that coolant passage?

 

I've bought a couple of things from 'em. Some HLAs, a water pump... Never had a problem.

 

Serious question, why do some of you guys even mess with the freeze plugs? I have NEVER in my life touched a freeze plug and have never had one leak or fail.

 

go to any local engine shop and they should be able to get you brass ones from pioneer just give them measurments. but you may have to buy a whole box of them cause they dont sell individualy

 

He clearly posted in post 1 that one probably corroded. Meaning he didn't mess with them.

 

Sort of why I didn't make the dyno day. That and my car won't start. Was doing the timing belt on my wife's Sebring and noticed that the freeze plug on the back of the Mitsu 2.5 block is leaking 6 oz a day. Can't get to it easily without pulling the motor. Looks like I'll be doing more car work this winter.

Tried to start the Miata to test and see if my header welding fix works and the starter is just clicking so I'm troubleshooting that this weekend while I try to drop the motor in the Sebring. Sucks having 3 cars with 2 out of commission.

At least my **** didn't blow up like Neos.

Nothing else to add except that I've never seen a failed freeze plug in a Miata and I had a 90 with 150K miles and one with close to 200k.

Frank