bradleysjohn
Member
I don't understand some members of this TDI Forum. The some members keep referring to something called "frost plugs". What they are calling "frost plugs" is the hole or holes where the steel (cast iron, aluminum, etc.) is poured into the sand mold. If you didn't have these holes, how would the engine block get made, they are not made from a single block of material. After the engine is poured and pulled out of the sand, the hole or holes are machined out the holes are plug with metal plugs to keep the water or oil from leaking out. These holes are later used to put in a "block heater".
It seems the some members do not know what they are talking about or they are promoting the other type of heaters (inline heaters) that are not the block heater type. The membership might be right in referring that certain engines don’t have “frost plugs” but all engines have some type of plug to keep the fluids in.
I had the same problem with my 98 jetta TDI. Brand new battery, new oil, I keep the car outside, temperature around 20 degrees, took over 20 minutes of trying to get the car started. Glow plugs were working fine, just to cold to start. I had asked the forum about heaters. The membership kept referring to an “inline heater” which runs around $130 to $150 plus installation. I had asked the membership what about “block heaters” they cost around $40. Membership said, “oh your engine doesn’t have “frost plugs”. I contacted autocoolingsolutions.com asking them about my jetta. They told me that they had a “engine block heater” for my car. I told auto cooling solutions that the TDI forum said that there was not any “frost plugs” on my engine. They told me that, “well we sell thousands of these units”. So I bought one. I have a great mechanic who’s day job is working on large diesel trucks. I brought the engine block heater to him, he said, “that’s the one”. I asked him how he was going to put it into the engine, he said, where the “sand plug is located”. I asked him about the “frost plugs”, he said, never heard of “frost plugs”. He said that the TDI Forum membership must be referring to what is called the “sand plug or plugs”.
On a Jetta 98 TDI made in Mexico, the “sand plug” is located behind the engine, underneath the Turbo charger. My mechanic had to take off the charger, then make a tool to reach in, poke a hole into the “sand plug” and pop it out. “Sand plug” is a (simple metal plug), then my mechanic placed the “engine block heater” into the hole. The “engine block heater” is designed for this model of engine.
Now, when I have to start the car say if the temperature is under 32, I only have to plug the into the heater block for an hour. Jetta starts on first try.
So I’m confused with some of the TDI forum membership, saying there is no “frost plugs” on this type of car engine. Maybe someone can explain to me and the membership how I was able to place an “engine block heater” into my engine where some of the membership said I wouldn’t be able to.
John
It seems the some members do not know what they are talking about or they are promoting the other type of heaters (inline heaters) that are not the block heater type. The membership might be right in referring that certain engines don’t have “frost plugs” but all engines have some type of plug to keep the fluids in.
I had the same problem with my 98 jetta TDI. Brand new battery, new oil, I keep the car outside, temperature around 20 degrees, took over 20 minutes of trying to get the car started. Glow plugs were working fine, just to cold to start. I had asked the forum about heaters. The membership kept referring to an “inline heater” which runs around $130 to $150 plus installation. I had asked the membership what about “block heaters” they cost around $40. Membership said, “oh your engine doesn’t have “frost plugs”. I contacted autocoolingsolutions.com asking them about my jetta. They told me that they had a “engine block heater” for my car. I told auto cooling solutions that the TDI forum said that there was not any “frost plugs” on my engine. They told me that, “well we sell thousands of these units”. So I bought one. I have a great mechanic who’s day job is working on large diesel trucks. I brought the engine block heater to him, he said, “that’s the one”. I asked him how he was going to put it into the engine, he said, where the “sand plug is located”. I asked him about the “frost plugs”, he said, never heard of “frost plugs”. He said that the TDI Forum membership must be referring to what is called the “sand plug or plugs”.
On a Jetta 98 TDI made in Mexico, the “sand plug” is located behind the engine, underneath the Turbo charger. My mechanic had to take off the charger, then make a tool to reach in, poke a hole into the “sand plug” and pop it out. “Sand plug” is a (simple metal plug), then my mechanic placed the “engine block heater” into the hole. The “engine block heater” is designed for this model of engine.
Now, when I have to start the car say if the temperature is under 32, I only have to plug the into the heater block for an hour. Jetta starts on first try.
So I’m confused with some of the TDI forum membership, saying there is no “frost plugs” on this type of car engine. Maybe someone can explain to me and the membership how I was able to place an “engine block heater” into my engine where some of the membership said I wouldn’t be able to.
John