The freeze plug blew off Mitsubishi Galant while on freeway and cant get it to start. Help?

Question

On my way to work I heard a ticking, then saw steam, then the car died so I pulled over to the side of the freeway. My freeze plug blew off inside the timming belt cover and I lost all the water, I was told there is no compression. I put water back in radiator and the car turns but doesnt catch. Can somebody tell me how can I fix my car.Is this a costly car repair problem?

Answer 1

try doing a compression test , normal pressure is around 150 psi. but I've had cars run (poorly) at 85, usually the concern with overheating is engine seizure , obviously not the case with you. I'm not familiar with your make /model but there may be an overheat shutdown in the computer that needs to be reset , usually disconnecting the battery will reset the computer but be prepared to re-program your alarm, radio etc. hopes this helps.

Answer 2

There is a gasket, a "soft" material fitted between the block of the engine and the head. The engine has overheated for some reason and this gasket has blown. This means that the air normally compressed by the pistons is leaking either to the outside, from cylinder to cylinder or into the cooling system. The extra pressure from this last may have caused the freeze plug to blow out, or perhaps it just blew through age or because of the overheating.

A possible repair will be to replace the gasket. This will also mean that the cylinder head has to be milled flat again because they usually distort in such cases. On re-assembly of the engine the valves admitting air and fuel and letting out exhaust will need to be re-adjusted. You will also need an oil drain and flush and new oil since coolant/water usually gets into the oil and sometimes there is oil in the water coolant as well. You will also have to track down and fix the cause of overheating.

Depending on the year and model and overall construction of the engine this work is not particularly difficult. However there is a fair bit to be done and I would suggest that you are looking at at least several hundred dollars, possibly up to about $1500 depending on where in the world you live.

A good backyard mechanic can do most of this except for milling the head. Some special tools are required, a torque wrench is essential. However they have to be "good" and not some thicko.