Is there an easy way to drain the block of coolant?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,813
Likes: 15
From: Doylestown PA
Is there an easy way to drain the block of coolant? I need to swap my water pump, and would like to do it with as little mess as possible, so is there a way to drain the block, at least below the water pump level to try and avoid the mess?
Thanks.
Thanks.
There is a coolant plug in the side of your block. This is an easy way to drain the block but I don't know how clean it will be. The coolent will be running everywhere because all the stuff between that hole and the ground.
TECH Resident
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 843
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From: Roseville, Ca.
drain the radiator then close everything up. remove the coolant bypass, then use a shop vac and the mentioned coolant plug, close it then from the bottom rad. hose.
Last edited by Steve Gunn; May 6, 2011 at 07:50 AM.
Removing the block plugs like mentioned above are a pain to get to, but will help. The lower radiator hose is lower than the water pump ports on the block, so it shouldn't be to messy by just removing the lower hose first and letting it drain. I used a shop vac to suck water out of the block when swapping heads, but you need to have the water pump off first.
There's another drain plug on the passenger side too:
There's another drain plug on the passenger side too:
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,813
Likes: 15
From: Doylestown PA
I have a lift, so getting under it isn't a problem. I've done this before, but just remember it being a big mess. Oh well. I could always just unhook the lower heater core line from the water pump and try draining that while using a shop vac to catch as much as possible.
Thanks guys. After 10 years and countless mods and work done myself, I still learn something new each time I tear into the motor.
Thanks guys. After 10 years and countless mods and work done myself, I still learn something new each time I tear into the motor.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,813
Likes: 15
From: Doylestown PA
I'm just trying to avoid the mess on the floor when you break loose the bolts on the water pump. It's not a big deal, but if there's a better way, I'm willing to try it. I just hate cleaning up messes that I can avoid.
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Brett Foote
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 322
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From: Bentonville, AR
Pulling the ECT sender will drain quite a bit out of the block, and it's super easy to get too. Mine broke when I pulled the manifolds off to put my headers on, that's how I know it will drain a lot out, haha.
Isn't the top radiator hose higher than the block? It's not going to drain out the block that way.
I'm just trying to avoid the mess on the floor when you break loose the bolts on the water pump. It's not a big deal, but if there's a better way, I'm willing to try it. I just hate cleaning up messes that I can avoid.
I'm just trying to avoid the mess on the floor when you break loose the bolts on the water pump. It's not a big deal, but if there's a better way, I'm willing to try it. I just hate cleaning up messes that I can avoid.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 322
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From: Bentonville, AR
Ha yeah it's right in the way when doing headers/plugs/etc. mine was just old and brittle, I didn't even hit it (that I know of), just found it with the two pins sticking out and the rest still plugged into the harness. Luckily NAPA stocks them for under 10 bucks!
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,813
Likes: 15
From: Doylestown PA
The swap is done...
I drained the radiator, and when I unbolted the pump, I still got a gush of coolant on the floor. Fortunately, I picked up some spill pads ahead of time and they absorbed everything.
I drained the radiator, and when I unbolted the pump, I still got a gush of coolant on the floor. Fortunately, I picked up some spill pads ahead of time and they absorbed everything.
Hoooooooly crap. What a disaster.
How did you end up draining your block? Shop vac and a tube? Or did you skip it and just do the radiator?
My coolant is so old that it has hair - so I'm doing a full flush and want everything out. It looks like the only way to get to the large plug on the driver's side is to take the damn alternator out. I don't really want to do that, especially since it's going to make a mess and I'll need to do it twice to run the engine for the flush and then drain it all a second time before new coolant goes in.
I've drained my radiator, but it looks like it only holds half the coolant in the system. The block is still holding on to a ton.
How did you end up draining your block? Shop vac and a tube? Or did you skip it and just do the radiator?
My coolant is so old that it has hair - so I'm doing a full flush and want everything out. It looks like the only way to get to the large plug on the driver's side is to take the damn alternator out. I don't really want to do that, especially since it's going to make a mess and I'll need to do it twice to run the engine for the flush and then drain it all a second time before new coolant goes in.
I've drained my radiator, but it looks like it only holds half the coolant in the system. The block is still holding on to a ton.