core/freeze plugs i would like to put this one to bed

I own a rage racing street rod shop in n.c. and build lots of street/muscle cars and engines and one thing i always do is for customers engines is i machine out a couple of thicker core plugs. I do this to tap in a petcock if they want easy access to drain the blocks water without having to remove hoses and i put one on each side of the engine which is the most accessible when installed in the car, now i have always them core plugs and i know that alot of people call them freeze plugs, and thats cool ,sometimes i say the same thing when i am talking to somebody that says (what are core plugs?), then i say (freeze plugs) and they say (oh yeah).I am saying all of this because at least 3 or 4 times a year i get somebody that see my manufactured CORE plugs and say (aren't you afraid that FREEZE plug won't pop out and crack the block),now i know that a lot of you know what i am going to say next but this is only for the people who still think CORE plugs were made from the factory to pop out when it freezes to save the engine from cracking.I am only typing this because i just had this conversation again for the umpteenth time with people who should know better. #1 The foundry manufacturers of engine blocks, cast all iron and aluminum blocks in a special sand mixture that can withstand the initial pouring of metal into their sand molds,now once the metal cools there are holes in the sides of the block where the CORE plugs will go and the ONLY reason they are there is to be able to use tools to probe inside of the casting and help release the sand that is now trapped in the block. #2 The CORE plug will never pop out UNLESS the block freezes and cracks across the core plug and by some miracle it falls out.I have concluded my rant ,now back to your regularly scheduled CRAP!. my name is mark jones and i approve this commercial.

 

number 1 is right but number 2 is wrong. I have personaly blown 1 or 2 out and I know alot of people that have blown them out to.

 

I had a Cummins engine head saved by the plug pushing out when the water in it froze [ too weak antifreeze mixture] I have also seen them pop out on an engine that has been overheated, and have seen them rust through also.

 

Hey mark, cool stuff. I never really thought of it, but since I am currently working on porting a set of heads, I have gotten to wondering how they make those things (how they cast all those water jackets and ports, etc.) I am amazed at how little of the head is actually machined once they are done. So I am happy to hear that that is the main reason for those "freeze plugs", it make alot of sense that they are part of the casting process.

I wonder if they earned the name of "freeze plug" because a number of them have popped out when the block has frozen?

 

Living in a cold climate, I can say that they were designed to save the block in case the coolant froze (but thats one of the purposes of anti-freeze), I have seen a few where they have popped out, very common on boats around here if you don't winterize them. The ice that forms when the water freezes can be pretty strong, but it will take the path of least resistance.

 

The ice in my wine glass tries to do the same thing

:sorry:

 

Not trying to argue the point, just providing another example where one of those plugs saved an engine. The engine that was in my 77 when we got it lost a "freeze" plug the first winter we had it. The temps were down right at or below zero. My wife was driving the car at the time, and went about a half mile to get to where she was going. Didn't do any damage fortunately.

I watched an episode of "how it's made" a while back that showed them casting aluminum engine blocks after making and assembling all of the pieces of the sand-mold. Very cool to watch.

 

The only actual reson they are there is to hold the mold cores in place when they the block is cast. If they pop out when your coolant freezes, its a side effect, not really what they are designed to do.

 

A very convenient one though!

 

myth busting- read then learn then live then teach

I have always opened my mind for the actual truth about things all my life because i actually crave the knowlege about how things function ,and what makes things tick and have always had a kind of mythbusting personality and that what, i think has always spawned my imagination and need for creativity, so thanks scooper 77515 and slantsickness for embracing truthfulness and not beleving old wives tales and incorrect beliefs.I have found that most people will still try to hang on to somethings that they think are true even argure with you even when faced with the truth,even as silly as freeze plugs popping out.I think people do this so they won't feel kind of silly,i think it's because this knowlege was sometimes passed down from older people that we loved or respected and just want to believe that they were mostly right about things and life,but if they embraced this new fact it might them think they might be wrong about other things,perhaps this is the unconcious formula thats transforms men in to unflexible old men even when met head on with facts that seem to be in conflict with their beliefs.I have people here that want to argue the fact but my uncle is a foundryman,and metalsmith and i assure you that they are there just for sand evacuation, for example when ford built 427 cars or boss cars they sold them to regular people that walked into dealerships not just hardcore racers and low and behold screw in core plugs in everyone of them, and i bet they didn't pop out when cold,but what is going to make some of you flip your lid is when you find out that an air conditioner does't actually make and blow cold air or that the "W" in in any motor oil does not stand for weight,oh ,my friends we are going to have a lot of fun. class 101 style.Let the crazyness begin.

 

Hard to believe.....that is the only reason for them.

 

Gee I don't get any credit for being open-minded? Thanks. I don't care why they are there, and in fact I'd bet the engineers considered that the plugs might indeed provide a side-benefit other than being able to get the sand out. My point was that regardless of why they are there, they have saved a few blocks and will probably save a few more. Scott, I missed your last line before -- I think you are right, they earned the name, intended or not.

 

I completely intended to use the word "earned"

 

Wow... some people.

Whether they are made to pop out or to get rid of the sand... the point is, they have saved a block or 2, and Ive seen it happen also.

So, maybe he should have worded it different or whatever, but he was indeed wrong in part of his statement

 

I have but just one life to give.

I just want everyone to know that i am a very light hearted guy that loves to joke around and pull a few peoples legs from time to time and that i appreciate everyones opinion whether they agree with me or not.I think it's great to stir the pot every once in awhile,just to see what spices come to the surface.remember if two people agree on everything only one of them is doing the thinking. I appreciate your replys and keep the fur flying.