Why does water expand when it freezes? - Science & Laboratory

If there was no antifreeze , and the water in the block froze and expanded the not only did the freeze plugs blew, but you may have cracked your block. Freeze ports are cast in the engine block when made and the plugs for the holes are usually made of zinc alloy and pressed into the block. When the water does not have the proper mix of antifreeze, it expands and forces out the plugs to prevent block cracking. If it is real cold for extended periods of time it may not be enought room for the water to expand and it cracks the block. water on the ground and sometimes the plug that looks like a over sized bottlecap are evidence. If you attemp to start you car you will permantly damage your engine..

Water always expands when it freezes. That's why ice cubes float in a drink.

If you didn't have adequate anti-freeze in the car, it could be damaged as water expands when it freezes. In extreme cases, it can actually split the engine open. To prevent that, they put in "freeze plugs" that are designed to blow out before the engine is damaged. Hopefully that is all that has happened and your freeze plugs can be replaced. However it is possible that the radiator was damaged too.

If there is water in the unit and the temps drop below freezing, then yes, it will freeze. If you are storing it, ensure that all water is out of the lines and drum because when water freezes, it expands and can break hoses and pipes.

Hello,

On an engine block there are 'Freeze plugs'. The reason for freeze plugs is to allow for expansion (E.G.--when water freezes it expands). If water does get cold enough or does not have enough antifreeze in the system the water will expand and 'pop' a freeze plug to prevent the engine block or heads from cracking. However--these plugs can fail (not cold related) causing a leak in the cooling system. Thus water circulates through the block and heads to provide cooling (water pump-radiator-heater core). Also--water pumps when they go bad have a hole that 'pops' and leaks to let you know the water pump needs to be replaced. Therefore--Location is key.

I hope this helps.

Yes. Most all water cooled engines used in automobiles willutilize freeze plugs in their respective design. The freeze plug is there to act as a weak point should the water located in the water jacket of the head freeze and expand. Without the freeze plug, the metal of the head would crack when the water freezes and expands.

The engine in your Ford Explorer has freeze plugs, also called expansion plugs, mounted in the sides of the block. Freeze plugs are supposed to protect the engine block if the water in the engine freezes -- the expanded water is supposed to push out the freeze plug, although that doesn't always happen. Freeze plugs are made of thin steel compared to the engine block, and even with an anti-freeze mixture the plugs can rust out and require replacement.

Read more: How to Replace a Freeze Plug on a 1992 Ford Explorer ' eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7670495_replace-plug-1992-ford-explorer.html#ixzz2IBxfNrjb

a freeze plug is kinda like a metal cap that gets pressed into various strategically positioned holes around the engine. if your engine has water instead of anti-freeze during a freezing night it could cause the water to freeze and expand and pop a freeze plug out. they have to be pressed in. the actual freeze plugs themselves shouldn't cost more than about $20 the labor to install them will vary depending on how difficult they are to reach on your car. They are usually towards the bottom of the engine.

The filter is building up ans excess of water. When this waters freezes it expands and breaks the filter. Do you have a way to extend tubin, and install filter on the outside of unit?

Your engine is water cooled and therefore has water travelling around the engine block. 
A freeze plug is an expansion plug located in the side of an engine block that is supposed to protect the block against freezing conditions. Water expands when it turns to ice, and if the coolant does not have enough antifreeze protection it can freeze and crack the engine block. The freeze plugs (there are usually several of them) are supposed to pop out under such conditions to relieve the pressure on the block.
Most of the plugs to be found on an engine are actually to plug the holes where sand cores have been held. The sand cores are used in the casting process to form internal cavities in the engine block or cylinder head, for cooling water for example, and so should really be referred to as core plugs.

Freeze plugs can often be a source of troublesome leaks as a result of internal cooling system corrosion. Ease of replacement depends on accessibility. In many cases the plug area will be difficult to reach and using a mallet to perform maintenance or replacement will be nearly impossible without special facilities. Expanding rubber plugs are available as replacements when access is a problem.
Hope that helps...