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Oil Plug in Heater Water Valve Hole

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rckuhlman

rckuhlman

Freshman Member
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Looks like somebody put an oil plug in the hole where the heater valve should be on my a cylinder head I bought. It does not want to come out and I am stripping the head. Any suggestions?
 
Welcome to BCF. What car (model, year) do you have?

If it's just a stuck bolt, I've used a 50/50 mixture of ATF and acetone, dripped down around the hole. Let it sit overnight, then next day actually try to "tighten" it just a bit. That can loosen it up enough for the ATF/acetone mixture to seep down inside more. Tighten a bit, then loosen; tighten a bit, then loosen. Drip the ATF/acetone around the hole after every tighten/loosen round.

You usually find that after the first cycle, it will begin to loosen.

Let us know how it goes.
Tom
 
If you can't get it out with ATF Acetine (or PB Blaster or the like) I'd suggest a bit of heat. Concentrate it on the plug and use sparingly. I've never removed that plug or fitting with heat but have put plenty of heat to manifold studs and an occasional thermostat housing with good results and no warpage. Check the business surface for flatness after, just to be sure.
Tom
 
If I recall correctly -- that hole is expecting a tapered thread on its fitting (which could be a plug on a car w/o a heater).

Not sure what you mean by 'oil plug' -- some sort of galley plug? -- but if it is a straight thread in a tapered hole it would be stubborn.

Can you tell what the plug is made of? -- that might suggest what your options are if heat & brute force do not move it.
 
Heat the plug red then let it cool. It should turn right out afterwards. A lot of folks use sealant that glues a tapered plug in place. The heat takes care of that too.

If it is already stripped...I would forget about the heat and get out my 1/2" drill.
 
We don need no steenkin heaters !
 
Funny thing about heaters..........I had to make an appointment for service for my daily driver, a Honda. Carole and I drove the TR3 to the dealer. It was one of the first really warm days here in NC. All the service personnell came out to look at the car and I made them all laugh when I had to open the bonnett to shut off the heater!
 
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