Mysterious hole in Engine (What's this?)

[Doctr Mikki]

When I was going over my engine (3800 V-6) in my 92 Park Ave., I noticed for the first time a hole (abt. 1 inch in dia.) perfectly circular, that is right below the top radiator hose coolant inlet. This hole I could see into (the Sun was just right) and it was clean and dry inside. I've never noticed this hole before !! What is it?? Did I blow out a plug in my block? The engine doesn't seem to run any differently, it skips once in a while....and I have a couple lifters which seem a little noisy at times. Gas milage could be better, but I haven't really measured it lately...It's prob abt. 17 mpg.

I just don't understand what this hole could be for...
Can anyone tell me before I do more damage to my car? I have just recently burned up my AC Compressor. Smoking, boiling hot....so bad I thought it might catch fire. I just disconnected the power lead to the compressor, and was happy to see that the fan clutch/pully would still turn.

Upload of jpeg failed, but I'm sure that you expert guys can tell what I mean.

Doc

 

[Doctr Mikki]

Mysterious hole Pix......

Here is another try at uploading the picture of the hole in question....
Thanks....

 

[Cadillac_AL]

I have the same hole in my 94. I never noticed it before either and I have no idea what it is, but it appears to be normal.

 

[ParkAveUltra]

It's for stashing stuff when crossing the border ???

 

[Doctr Mikki]

Now why would I want to go and do a naughty thing like hide my stash in there?? I would think the smell of burning grass would give me away !

Doc

 

[Tallguy]

I believe that "hole" is one of the freeze plugs for that engine.

 

[redmondjp]

I believe that "hole" is one of the freeze plugs for that engine.

Nope - it's in the engine flange area and there is no water jacket there. I believe that this is an inspection hole through which you can view the flywheel (but very few 3800s ever came in front of a manual tranny, maybe in early 90s Firebirds) or flex plate. Many foreign engines have them as well (I know older VWs do) but often they have a rubber or plastic plug.

It's also possible that this hole was used for positioning or lifting during the manufacturing process.

 

[planenut_2000]

It's nothing! Forget you even seen it!

 

[HotZ28]

Since this a 5-yr old thread, and if the OP still has the car, I am sure he has forgotten about it.

 

[Doctr Mikki]

I have NOT forgotten about it, just don't care about it anymore. And Yes! I drive the car every day. I've been lucky enough not to need any work done on it up until now. Actually...I'm surprised that the thread is still on the board.

I would have thought it would have rolled off long ago.

Doc

 

[HotZ28]

Welcome back Doc!

 

[Doctr Mikki]

Re:Welcome Back!

It is good to be back for a while with such stellar compatriots!
It has been a long time and I've been down a bumpy road in the past 4 years; Howsomever, I am still "vertical" and glad for it. The one major thing that I have come to find out in my automotive experience over the past few years is that I just can't do as much as I used to before. the body won't allow it!
I'm getting so damn arthritic that I have to take it a little at a time. When I rebuilt the brake system on the rear of my Buick a year ago, it only took me 8 days to finish it. It was time well spent though....the results were amazing!

Thanks for the welcomeback. You are a pretty great bunch of guys!

Doc

 

[BlackInjun]

I just found it to after looking carefully at my rebuilt transmission

 

[Doctr Mikki]

I have seen a reference to this on some other Buick Forums on the net. They stated that it was some sort of vent hole. Makes as much sense as anything else does on some of these cars. I just don't think of it anymore. now if I started seeing stuff coming out of it....

Doc

 

[TheCapnVideo]

It stays on the forum for guys like me that are looking for something completely different and come across it who can then dismiss it out of hand when I notice it for the first time on mine.

 

[Fred482]

My '94's got one too. Glad I didn't get left out, like I usually do when something cool like this happens.......;-)

 

[Buick Boy]

376,000 mi? holy crap, any internal noise? Great job on the maintainance dude!