2008 Mazda 5 Manual 140k

All my coolant pours out of this hex pipe plug thing on what looks to be the cylinder head (driver side). It is blocked by a plastic bracket that holds a coolant hose that eventually goes to the heater core. I assume it is a freeze plug?



Any info on replacement would help. Is there a sealant that goes bad, or is it the plug itself that goes bad? Can the leak be solved by simply tightening it?

What size is the plug and what size hex drive do I need? Can I get to it by simply removing the two (3?) bolts that hold the plastic bracket that block it?

Here is another view:


UPDATE: Found a schematic of the cooling system. The hex plug doesn't seem to be part of the cooling system. However, perhaps the coolant leak is not coming from that hex plug but rather from the water gasket below it. I've ordered the part and I'm crossing my fingers that is the problem. I still would like to know what the threaded hex plug is for.



Cheers

 

Here is what turned out to be the problem. The water outlet BROKE on the inside. I know, right? How does a piece of plastic break when it only come in contact with engine coolant?

Anyway, so the whole thing needed to be replaced. You can see in the first photo blow the inner rim that broke off. In the second photo you can see where the gasket blew due to too much pressure (it is quite stretched out from it, too).

 

I have a Mazda 3 2006 and I have the same problem coolant is going everywhere and it's driving me nuts I thought I was at hex bolt but after I read your post I think you're right and I would like to see them two pictures but they didn't load on your last post if you wouldn't mine I would love to see those


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Exactly where my leak is and it was driving me crazy trying to figure out what was located there. You are right it looks like its coming from the Hex bolt but its pushing up from below it. To the point as soon as I pour coolant in to that level it pours back out. Don't have time to mess with it so I guess its roadside assistance tow to the shop. At least I can tell them what is wrong with it.

 

Same problem here as well. How hard is it to get that water distribution piece off? I know the bolts are underneath.

 

Could you send me those pics please as I am having the same trouble

 

[QUOTE=Buck Mulligan;162593]2008 Mazda 5 Manual 140k

All my coolant pours out of this hex pipe plug thing on what looks to be the cylinder head (driver side). It is blocked by a plastic bracket that holds a coolant hose that eventually goes to the heater core. I assume it is a freeze plug?



Any info on replacement would help. Is there a sealant that goes bad, or is it the plug itself that goes bad? Can the leak be solved by simply tightening it?

What size is the plug and what size hex drive do I need? Can I get to it by simply removing the two (3?) bolts that hold the plastic bracket that block it?

Here is another view:


UPDATE: Found a schematic of the cooling system. The hex plug doesn't seem to be part of the cooling system. However, perhaps the coolant leak is not coming from that hex plug but rather from the water gasket below it.

What is this hex plug called? I am needing to replace it or try tightening it, mine is definitely leaking out of there, also what size is it?

 

I am having the same issue with 2007 Mazda 3 and Mazda does not make the freeze plug so I am at a loss as to what to do. Antifreeze is leaking from the freeze plug and auto guys said they cannot find the part. Is my only other option to replace the whole cylinder head with a used one? Car is basically totalled if I cannot find a fix. Mazda 2007 3 Speedster 2.3 NON TURBO. Hope its ok to leave my number here. 205-207-8063 in Birmingham.

Christy Hall

 

Hi Christy, if your car is really old and you do not want to spend 9 hours of labour, then why not epoxy seal it permanently. Now this should only be done as a last resort. There is a heat resistant epoxy called JB WELD that hardens like steel when cured. It will hold, but make sure the car does not freeze and need the freeze plug!


JB weld epoxy
epoxy is called "JB Weld" i have sent you a photo of it. Just google it to locate it. You get it at hardware stores. Look at some utube video on " JB Weld".
You must CLEAN area first of rust dirt etc. Use wire brush etc and tooth brush to clean! Then apply JB WELD EPOXY.

 

I am willing to try anything. I thank you so much for oyur help. What brand epoxy would the auto shop need and I did think of that. I wanted to just gorilla glue it, but never that simple. I am not sure why the mechanic did not suggest this. I cannot drive my car until the leak is fixed and NO ONE has the part, not even Mazda. Mazda suggested I purchase a used cylinder head, take it to mechanic, have them remove leaking freeze plug from my car and use the used freeze plug from the purchased used cyliner head to put in my car. How sur are you epoxy will work? Im a girl so I do not know about these things or what epoxy I need. Would my mechanic shop already have the epoxy? The epoxy option would save me as I just paid $1600 on the car last month. Again, thank you so much!

Christy Hall