Anyone fixed coolent leak for good?

[greenthumb]

I have a 2001 TC 40 that developed a leak around drain plug to the engine block for the coolent. I took it in while it was under warranty and they actually put a differnt type of plug in it has a valve on it. It seemed to stop leaking until late this summer, of course I had no time to get it back in and now the warranty is up. I need to do the 100 hour service (well I am 3 hours overdue) and figured since I need to change oil and coolent this would be a good time to pull that drain plug and find some sealent that would work better then the dealers any thoughts?

thanks have a great christmas.

 

[PineRidge]

If it is a threaded drain valve once you remove it clean the threads well. Then you can use teflon tape, pipe dope. or silicone RTV sealant on the threads before you reinstall it. I prefer the RTV silicone as it sets up like flexible rubber and is the very same adhesive used to hold aquariums together today. (its waterproof)

Good luck to you.
Merry Christmas To All

 

[greenthumb]

thanks
will RTV sealant stand up to heat since this plug is on the engine block by the oil filter? and where do I get it auto parts store? have a great day

 

[PineRidge]

You can pick it up at any Auto Zone. It is also intended as a engine gasket substitute so it was designed for normal engine block temperatures. Just don't use this same RTV for an exhaust manifold gasket as that is more heat than it was designed for.

You'll be drip dry in no time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[techinNY]

I have only used teflon tape and have had no problems. I would agree that rtv would be fine also.

 

[JJT]

Does a 4 yr fix count as "for good"?

I changed the antifreeze on the wife's minivan 4+ years ago and the drain plug leaked after the flush and refill. I put 2 bottles of radiator sealer into the radiator because it was more than a drip and the van has rear heat, (lots of coolant). It stopped the leak.

2 years ago when I did the next flush and fill I changed the hoses and didn't mess with the troublesome drain plug.

I have a friend that is a mechanic, he says he never opens thedrain plug, he always takes off the lower radiator hose.

 

[djradz]

My TC-40D has the same problem again. The dealer replaced the leaking plug with the new version in order to fix the cool-running engine. It appears they used some type of pipe-dope and now for the last two winters, it leaks. My old 1720 had the same problem and I fixed it with a combination of teflon tape on the plug and "Ultra-Blue" (by Permatex and available at most auto parts suppliers) silicone RTV smeared into the threads of the hole of the block. This fix went at least 5 years and my father reports it's still holding fast after another 3 years of his use.