Inlet Manifold leak

[D813YBB]

My car has what appears to be a leak coming from the core plug at the back of the inlet manifold. Evidence for this is puddle of antifreeze on the garage floor and dried splatter marks on the engine bulkhead. This plug is difficult to access with little space available between the manifold and the bulkhead. Does anyone know the method for removing the old plug?

[G Force]

This plug is difficult to access with little space available between the manifold and the bulkhead. Does anyone know the method for removing the old plug?

It is a simple job to remove the inlet manifold seperately and normally the gasket does not break and it is ok to re-use. Once removed just force an old screw driver through the rotten core plug & lever it out. The new plug just knocks in with a mallet, I usually smear blue hylomar around the edge of the plug but its not always necessary, just that old habbits die hard.

[D813YBB]

Just to make it clear what I’m going on about, I’ve attached some pictures taken from the side and above the leak.

Gary, thanks for the advice, but taking the manifold off sounds like major surgery. As I need the car for work every day, how long should it take to dismantle and re-assemble?

[G Force]

Hi, taking off the manifold is not that big a job, but thats easy for me to say as I have done many. You may just have enough room to prise out the old plug and knock another in but its tight for room. The plug is well corroded so it will come out easy by pushing in a screw driver and flick it out. You might be able to knock the new plug in with the side of a small hammer.