1997 Dodge Dakota V6 frost plug replacement

[otis24]

My ole 91 Chevrolet K1500 with 4.3 V6 is about ready to give up the ghost! Starting to cut out. May be a fuel filter, plugs, or something else. It burns a lot of oil due to bad valve guides. Starting to get a slight knock in the engine. I’ve driven it 8.5 years. Not bad for a $1500 truck.

Tomorrow, I’m looking at a 1997 Dodge Dakota extended cab with V6. Main problem is it leaks a little antifreeze at the frost plugs. How hard/expensive are these to replace?

The truck was owned locally. With 144k miles, I’m not afraid of it.

 

[DemoFly]

As long as it's not one of the three behind the transmission bell-housing, it's not that bad.

There's also one on the back of each head that are a bit of a PITA and probably require pulling the heads or engine.

 

[atikovi]

Throw in a can of block sealant.

 

[meep]

I love the lines of the old dakotas. They look like a truck should look like, and they ride well too.

 

[Chris142]

If the freeze plugs rusted out the entire cooling system is a mess. Run!

 

[clinebarger]

The core plugs are likely rotted out, Meaning the entire cooling system is compromised....Good ole Green Antifreeze!!

 

[eljefino]

If the freeze plugs rusted out the entire cooling system is a mess. Run!

This. What to the plugs bite into? The block. Imagine the block being made of a rust-colored clay. That's what you'll be hammering new plugs into. Hope it holds!