I want to drain the cooling system. The Haynes manual mentions two points from which to drain: from the radiator and from the engine block. I have not looked under the car yet, but I suppose I will find the drain fitting on the radiator easily. Where do I find the engine block drain plug? It's a V8 engine. Thanks!
um, just pull the lower radiator hose off.
oh, and be sure to where flip-flops and drain it after you drove about an hour up and down the freeway.
LOL
Flush it out good and re-fill with Zerex G05. Its the same stuff as Motorcraft Gold. GREAT coolant.
....at a constant 6500 RPM :burnout: :mullet: :hick:
The radiator drain is on the passenger side. It faces in towards the motor.
On most 5.0 blocks the drains have allen heads. I've never used them while in a car.....
What are you planning?
I took the air hose and blew air through the system til all the coolant was out. Through the radiator, and the lines going to the heater core. Flushed with the garden hose and such, more air, repeated a couple times. Its all good now. Wish I woulda had a couple gallons of vinegar to run through it all though to really get some of the crud out.
I just dropped mine off at a radiator shop today. The same shop restored my Dad's radiator he had in the '69 Mach. When he got it back in, he had to go to a WARMER thermostat! They're just cleaning mine, it's going to cost about $40.
Oh,I see now.When I read the title off this thread,I thought you needed to know how to go pee.
Drain, flush and refill it. Would it hurt to flush with tap water once it is drained? Some say you should flush with distilled water, which is better I guess, but would it make such a difference that I'd have to go out and buy myself 30 bottles of distilled water? :)
I used to actually go out and buy distilled. I stopped a few years/changes ago. No difference noticed. BTW the passenger side drain will be much more accesible while the block is in the car as compared to the driver side.:burnout:
How are you gonna flush it?
But where are they? Or where is it?
If you look just in front of the motor mounts from underneath the car, you'll spot them. The passenger side one is easily accesible while the driver side has a bit more stuff in the way (oil filter and oil pressure sending unit).
The rad in my 88 is disgusting. I need to drain and flush it. Once the car hits op temp. it sky rockets too. So I guesiing the crud removal and a new stat might help this?
Provided you don't have other issues.
It won't hurt ;)
Not to Hijack buuut...
I live in SA and our "water" is about 50% water 50% limestone. I routinely use Vinegar to clean scale off things in the house.
The previous owner of the coug used tap and its got some calcium buildup. I was planning on dumping about a half liter of vinegar into the system and letting it pump it around for a while.
Does anyone see a good reason not to do this?
-dz
Ok, I'm trying to flush it right now. I drained the system from the radiator, and when the coolant stopped, I closed the fitting and started adding water. However, the water doesn't seem to be going anywhere and just sits in the coolant reservoir. I let the engine run for a while but it started to get real hot and there's no sign of any water going anywhere?
Add to radiator.
Ok, but I can't get the metal radiator cap off...how do I add it to the radiator?
Why?
You need to fix that issue ASAP. How in the world is it stuck?
I say flush it with beer. I am flushing myself right now lol.
We're talking about the somewhat star-shaped metal cap on the top right corner of the radiator right?
I can turn it a little bit (enough to hear the pressure come off) but after about a 1/4 turn it just won't move anymore. Is there a special way to get it off, or should I apply more force?
Push down while turning...? I hate to mention the obvious one?
Tried that, but will give it another shot later today. Never flushed the system before, so nothing is 'obvious' to me :o
Regarding the engine drain plug:
It's the one inside the blue circle, right?
(http://www.crystalline.nl/tbird/drainplugloc.jpg)
Digging this up....Didn't see your last post.....
Actually here's what mine looks like. The driver's side is similar.