Roadtripr

This week is bad. I lost my starter and while getting in repaired they noticed my freeze plug on the back of the engine is leaking coolant (no wonder my coolant was low). I got a quote for 6h of labor to replace a $3 plug - $400 labor!. Since the plug is located on the back of the engine, they have to remove the transmission to get to it. Is there no easier way to get to this stupid plug? What else should I get checked/replaced while the have the transmission out? - mainseal?
Any help is appreciated

(ok I will keep the thread here - sorry, but how do I delete the other thread?)

Roadtripr

anyone?

currently I feel like "drive and keep and eye on the coolant", but if there is an easier fix (like a sealant or something) I would give it a try.

kyle_22r

i used a rather shady method when installing my freeze plugs(word to the wise, don't use a punch when you can't find a proper size driver/socket to install them) and found they were seeping soon after my engine was running. i put half a bottle of bar's liquid stop leak in and i've had no trouble since.

Yoda

Stop leak my be OK to stop a NEW core plug from leaking, but if an old one is rusted, it will only be a very temporary patch. Get it done right. Also, if they pull the tranny, have them replace any other plugs in there (they are all the same age right?)

Are you sure it is a core plug leak? Your engine doesn't sound that old.

Roadtripr

Yoda - sounds like good advice
"Are you sure it is a core plug leak? Your engine doesn't sound that old".
That is what the mechanic say. No it only has 90K, but it doesn't alway sound that smooth either I wonder if the previous did to it. I will keep and eye on the coolant level and get it fixed soon if it drops fast.
The mechanic noted that green coolant is coming out and added back the green sutff. I thought 4runners used a red colored coolant?

Roadtripr

Update - took for an alignment at the dealer and had them check for the freeze plug leak. Even adding 10 minutes with compression he saw nothing. Still I lost a little coolant somewhere in the last 700 miles.
Where is it going? Well they did find a small amount of oil leaking from my head gasket! Could this be connected? or am I just running into a different problem? (or each mechanic sees different things)