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| 95fairmont |
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Gday again guys. Just this morning I was changing the thermostat on my 95 EF Fairmont. I flushed the coolant. But when I refitted the drain plug, I must 've overtighten it, the head of the drain plug broke off. Clumsy me! I couldn't believe it was made of plastic! So the whole body of the bolt is screwed in the radiator while the head is off. Does anybody have any suggestion what's the best way to go about it? I mean on how to take it out (to be replaced). Can we get a better replacement such as a steel bolt or something similar (stronger)? What is its size? Its leaking a fair bit about a drop every 3 seconds, so I have to replace it urgently.
Thanks in advance for the replies. |
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| madmax |
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Personnally I never use them I just take the bottom radiator hose off.
Have you tried a screw extractor? or maybe just gum it up with some sealant.
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| ZB351 |
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use a small flathead screwdriver and a hammer, and gently tap it anti clockwise, should come loose after a few taps.
James |
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| 95fairmont |
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madmax wrote: Personnally I never use them I just take the bottom radiator hose off.
Have you tried a screw extractor? or maybe just gum it up with some sealant. Yeah, that's exactly what I did, I used a fair bit of hi-temp RTV (red color) to stop the leak, just as a temporary solution (and not to mess up the garage with coolant) till I think of a good way to remove it. There's no leak now but I recon the sealant wouldn't hold given the pressure build-up in the radiator everything starts to heat up. Do you think I can get a replacement drain plug anywhere aside from Ford? Thanks mate. |
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| 95fairmont |
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ZB351 wrote: use a small flathead screwdriver and a hammer, and gently tap it anti clockwise, should come loose after a few taps.
James I'd probably try that if my RTV sealant will not hold. But I have to look for a replacement first. Thanks mate. |
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| madmax |
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Would you believe it I just happen to have my old radiator sitting outside, and it had a drain plug in it. Its now sitting in front of me.
If you like PM me and I will mail it to you.
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| comhelp |
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Age: 41 Posts: 638 Joined: 6th Nov 2004 Ride: 1994 Ford EF Fairmont Ghia Sedan Location: Melbourne |
same as madmax, got my old radiator here PM if interested. You could always try the wreckers. As for a metal bot, go and see you local "botl bloke" and see if he has one that would suit
_________________ 1994 ford fairmont ghia - Currently 302 with T5 - Work in progress |
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| 95fairmont |
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madmax wrote: Would you believe it I just happen to have my old radiator sitting outside, and it had a drain plug in it. Its now sitting in front of me.
If you like PM me and I will mail it to you. Thats great! I've sent you a PM for my mailing info. (Comhelp thanks also). Anyways, the RTV hi temp sealant is still holding but I don't know for how long. I haven't tried driving it around for a longer period and higher rad temp. But I hope it holds till I get the plug. Thanks heaps!! Also, just to add to this thread, all this fiasco started when I replaced my thermostat. The reason being was that the thermo housing was leaking on the side, so I decided it needed a new gasket, so might as well change the thermostat (coze I didn't know how old it was). To my surprise when I opened the thermo housing, it didn't have any gasket! Not even a trace of any rtv sealant or anything! No wonder it was leaking. Is that normal? Thanks again guys. Cheers. |
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| madmax |
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Quote: To my surprise when I opened the thermo housing, it didn't have any gasket! Not even a trace of any rtv sealant or anything! No wonder it was leaking. Is that normal?
There is meant to be a gasket between the head and the lower thermostat housing. However between the top thermostat housing and the lower housing there is no gasket. The thermostat is supplied with a rubber ring on it which is suppose to be enough to seal, however I always use a little smear of Black silicone on mine.
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| comhelp |
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Age: 41 Posts: 638 Joined: 6th Nov 2004 Ride: 1994 Ford EF Fairmont Ghia Sedan Location: Melbourne |
really? well the last thermostat that i got had a gasket that goes between the 2 halves. I am pretty sure i got it from super cheap
_________________ 1994 ford fairmont ghia - Currently 302 with T5 - Work in progress |
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| madmax |
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Some of the non genuine thermostats do come with a gasket. However thats not the way ford designed it to be installed
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| 95fairmont |
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comhelp wrote: really? well the last thermostat that i got had a gasket that goes between the 2 halves. I am pretty sure i got it from super cheap
Yup, same here. That's the reason I got surprised. With my intention to change my thermostat, the Autobarn bloke gave me a Thermostat, a rubber ring thermostat gasket and a self adhesive gasket to go between the lower and upper housing<--this was the gasket I was looking for when I took my old thermo apart...couldn't find one. Thanks again for the help guys. 
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| madmax |
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theres no harm in using the paper gasket, the main thing is to ensure it doesn't leak.
I haven't used a paper gasket in 9 years, I just use the rubber ring and a smear of black silicone. It never leaks.
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| 95fairmont |
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Finally! The replacement drain plug (courtesy of Madmax-thanks mate.) is in!
And how did I get the broken plug out? Well the old flat screwdriver-hammer tapping-turning-trick worked (you were right James). I tried using a screw extractor at first but the plug was just too soft (plastic) for the tool to get a lock. Thanks guys! |
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| madmax |
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95fairmont wrote: Finally! The replacement drain plug (courtesy of Madmax-thanks mate.) is in!
And how did I get the broken plug out? Well the old flat screwdriver-hammer tapping-turning-trick worked (you were right James). I tried using a screw extractor at first but the plug was just too soft (plastic) for the tool to get a lock. Thanks guys! My pleasure, glad it all worked out for you.
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