A safe way to remove the engine coolant drain plug

[Shermen]

Hi all,

I am planning on installing a block heater on my 2001 Honda Accord V6 and encountered some problems. First, I found it extremely difficult to reach the plug (located at the rear of the block, half way of the height of the engine). Couldn’t reach from underneath nor above. Do I need some special tools for the job? Second, my mechanic told me the bolt might be seized after all those years of expansion and contraction and the threads on the aluminum block will easily strip if I force it. Could somebody help me out please?

Thanks a lot.

Topic

[college man]

Why are you installing a block heater now.
I take it this is a gasoline engine which
does not require any type of heater. Your
mechanic is right on the plug being seized
in the block. I would leave it be.

[Shermen]

My intention was to have easier winter start up and shorter warm up time. Now I ended up with an expensive paper weight. 🙁
I guess it’s not worth to wrack the car for that. Thanks.

[george gonzalez]

I would fuggedaboudit and install a nice big battery and load it up on 5W-20 synthetic oil.

Works for me here even when it’s 30 below.

[Kevin Criswell]

For the most part block heaters are unnecessary unless you are in an region that is VERY cold. If you must have one they make block heaters with rare earth magnets that just stick to the oil pan and they make heaters that are basically a dipstick.

[Lorrin Barth]

My experience with block drain plugs is that if you are planning to be removing them then you have to get them out when the car is nearly new and wrap the threads with Teflon tape. Otherwise they quickly corrode and become very difficult.

[spelunkerd]

I like the plugs that are threaded into the block, but they are a lot more work to install compared with the ones that are just held on to the bottom of the pan with a magnet or glue. If the hole is hard to access I would probably go with the second choice.

[Author]

Replies