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[JesterRT]

Well I think my Corsa's finally died.  Started up on Sunday and a torrent of oil and water poured out under the car.  I got it up onto ramps to have a look and noticed that where it had been parked were two small silver discs - a bit like a jam jar lid, but one being the size of a 5p piece and the other about three times the size.  The bigger had deposits similar to years of coolant and the other was clean as a whistle.
My thought are that these used to belong in the block somewhere, but they've been blown out - anyone ever seen anything like this before?  Think I may have to get another small motor to commute in but may spend some time stripping this one down just to see where they've come from.

[Elite Pete]

They sound like core plugs and they pop out if you haven't got enough antifreeze in the water and it freezes. You can buy new ones and replace them

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Well I think my Corsa's finally died.  Started up on Sunday and a torrent of oil and water poured out under the car.  I got it up onto ramps to have a look and noticed that where it had been parked were two small silver discs - a bit like a jam jar lid, but one being the size of a 5p piece and the other about three times the size.  The bigger had deposits similar to years of coolant and the other was clean as a whistle.
My thought are that these used to belong in the block somewhere, but they've been blown out - anyone ever seen anything like this before?  Think I may have to get another small motor to commute in but may spend some time stripping this one down just to see where they've come from.

Sounds like a core plug  to me,  Look at the side of the block and see if there are any holes where a plug should be.

If so you are lucky, and a new one can be forced back in place


EDIT:  Too slow typing; Pete beat me to it!!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Core plugs and a result of no antifreeze....naughty naughty

[JesterRT]

Sounds hopeful

Need the engine to thaw out though...  I did have anti-freeze in, but I've had an ongoing leak in a pipe that crosses underneath the exhaust manifold which I can't access to fix (and can't find the name of or part number for on the well known electronic repair manual - perhaps because the engine is acutally made by Isuzu and the details aren't terrific).  The result is that I've been topping up with water rather than anti-freeze solution so it was probably far too diluted to make any difference. 

Oil and water though - both little plugs are 'Core Plugs'?  Are they a friction fit then - so essentially do I need to bash new ones in with a hammer?

[albitz]

Yep knock them in with a hide mallet,or protect them with a piece of wood while you hammer the piece of wood. That is assuming they are easily accessible. I think it may also be possible that you could have a cracked block.
Edit. core plugs would account for the loss of water, but not loss of oil. Unless you already had oil mixed in with the water due to a previous problem? :-/

[Welung666]

Jester, the pipe that's leaking, is it the one that runs from the by-pass housing to the waterpump and has a bolt braket attached?

[JesterRT]

I think that's the pipe - yes.

@Albs - that's what I thought.  When I saw liquid pouring beneath the car I thought it would be water, but it's definitely mixed with oil so I'm going to assume the worst - I doubt there's any reason for oil to be coming out.  Tempted to try and get the engine out to see where the crack is.  Oil wasn't mixing before this weekend.

[Welung666]

In that case then:-

Engine no. 0 - 975024  97086480
Engine no. 975025 - 1334922  97103748
Engine no. 1334923 -          94364570
and you'll need the gasket 94002500

[Kneepad]

The core plugs are easily replaced. Assuming you can get easy access.
The new ones are dished and fitted with the bowed side out, they are a comfortable fit but will not seal until you smack them dead centre with a ball pein hammer.

[Andy B]

The core plugs are easily replaced. Assuming you can get easy access.
The new ones are dished and fitted with the bowed side out, they are a comfortable fit but will not seal until you smack them dead centre with a ball pein hammer.

The last core plugs I fitted to a Mk II Cavalier were like these, and went in with the aid of a suitable sized socket and had the concave side outwards.



You mean these:-



I've no ida which type are fitted to the Corsa TD though  :-/

[Welung666]

The top ones Andy

[Andy B]

The top ones Andy

I thought they would be   

[Welung666]

The top ones Andy

I thought they would be   

My old ex-taxi Isuzu engined Chavalier was forever blowing the rear left one out. Turned out to be the head gasket pressurising the coolant

[Andy B]

The top ones Andy

I thought they would be   

My old ex-taxi Isuzu engined Chavalier was forever blowing the rear left one out. Turned out to be the head gasket pressurising the coolant

SWMBO's late Uncle was quoted ££££££££££'s for a new engine to be fitted in his Cavalier by some Edinburgh garage due to loss of water  . So when he went on holiday & the car was left here I had a look. It took me a couple of hours of time to remove the inlet manifold & carb and about 50p each for 3 core plugs.