Draining the radiator without a mess?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Southeast WI
Draining the radiator without a mess?
I'm about to tackle the job of replacing the radiator and I was surveying the underside of the radiator yesterday to locate the drain plug. I found it without problem, but I noticed it is directly above a section of the front frame. I had hoped that I could simply place a drain pan under the plug to catch the coolant, but it looks like the coolant is going to splash on the frame and run all over the place.
Is there any clever way to drain the radiator without making a mess on the floor of my garage? Any of your tips and tricks would be appreciated. Thanks!
Is there any clever way to drain the radiator without making a mess on the floor of my garage? Any of your tips and tricks would be appreciated. Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by Tele_Man
I'm about to tackle the job of replacing the radiator and I was surveying the underside of the radiator yesterday to locate the drain plug. I found it without problem, but I noticed it is directly above a section of the front frame. I had hoped that I could simply place a drain pan under the plug to catch the coolant, but it looks like the coolant is going to splash on the frame and run all over the place.
Is there any clever way to drain the radiator without making a mess on the floor of my garage? Any of your tips and tricks would be appreciated. Thanks!
Is there any clever way to drain the radiator without making a mess on the floor of my garage? Any of your tips and tricks would be appreciated. Thanks!
Last edited by ...Roger...; Jun 19, 2006 at 09:10 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Southeast WI
I can confirm that there isn't a petcock on my radiator. It looks like a regular bolt and the last guy put teflon tape on the threads.
The boat fuel sounds like a clever idea, but my radiator cap is on the on the surge tank, not the radiator itself. So, I don't know how I would get the tubing down the radiator. (But I like that idea for syphoning the coolant out of the surge tank.)
Maybe I could duct tape a section of hose onto the end of a small plastic funnel, and then hold the funnel under the drain hole.
How much coolant should I expect to drain, i.e., how bid does my collection bucket have to be?
The boat fuel sounds like a clever idea, but my radiator cap is on the on the surge tank, not the radiator itself. So, I don't know how I would get the tubing down the radiator. (But I like that idea for syphoning the coolant out of the surge tank.)
Maybe I could duct tape a section of hose onto the end of a small plastic funnel, and then hold the funnel under the drain hole.
How much coolant should I expect to drain, i.e., how bid does my collection bucket have to be?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
I used a small hand pump. Place the "intake" tube down to the bottom of the radiator, start pumping till you hear slurping. Then wait a couple of minutes, and pump again (coolant will flow from engine to the radiator slowly). I didn't fill a 5 gallon bucket.
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Southeast WI
How can I get a tube down the radiator?
Can I disconnect the inlet hose and shove a tube down to the bottom radiator through that opening?
Remember, on a '69 the radiator cap is on the surge tank, not the radiator itself.
Can I disconnect the inlet hose and shove a tube down to the bottom radiator through that opening?
Remember, on a '69 the radiator cap is on the surge tank, not the radiator itself.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 763
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From: Loveland Colo
Heck, my radiator doesn't even have a drain plug or a petcock-- nothing. I ended up removing the plugs on the engine block, one each side, down low in the middle, which drained the majority of coolant from the system. Then when I could finally access the bottom rad hose (this was on a rad removal job) I just had to loosen the hose and drain, oh probably a gallon, maybe not that much, into a bucket.
When I put it all back together I did put drain ***** in the block. That won't drain it all, but it'll be better than nothing....
John
When I put it all back together I did put drain ***** in the block. That won't drain it all, but it'll be better than nothing....
John
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by Tele_Man
How can I get a tube down the radiator?
Can I disconnect the inlet hose and shove a tube down to the bottom radiator through that opening?
Remember, on a '69 the radiator cap is on the surge tank, not the radiator itself.
Can I disconnect the inlet hose and shove a tube down to the bottom radiator through that opening?
Remember, on a '69 the radiator cap is on the surge tank, not the radiator itself.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
I start by going to the local A&P and getting cardboard and laying them flat. If you don't have 2 oil drain buckets get 1 or 2 deep turkey foil trays. Then I take off the water pump hose, it's easier to get to and less mess...
Thread Starter
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From: Southeast WI
Originally Posted by toyvet1
Are you planning on replacing hoses.Why not just slit the lower hose over a bucket.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Living in the Hartland
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=10122
Got it as a gift, never used it for oil but use to drain all my rads.
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From: Southeast WI
Cool product, but it costs $100! I really don't need that contraption to help me change the oil on the Vette, and I surely don't expect to be changing the coolant frequently enough to justify that expense. But it is an interesting product.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Southeast WI
Originally Posted by mensch53
Any reason you couldnt just pull the lower rad hose over a bucket? You dont have to cut it as long as it is not fused on there.
I'll take a look under the car to see what the clearance is directly under the lower rad hose as it hooks up to the rad outlet. You may be right and there may be a clear passage to the bucket without splashing the frame.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 147
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From: Augusta GA
Shop vac,tygon tubing and gallon pickle jar.
Drill two holes in lid of pickle jar for tygon tubing ,snug fit,run one end of tygon tubing in radiator,auto transmission tube,rear end or anything else you want to drain and other end in hole in lid.
Then use a second piece of tygon tubing in other hole in lid and put in hose on shop vacuum and seal with duct tape or make a wooded adapter plug.Turn on the vacuum and watch the jar fill.Turn off vacuum before liquid gets into tubing going to vacuum.
Using jar allows you to inspect condition of fluid.
If its anti-freeze or other non explosive fluid and you don't mind having the fluid in the vacuum hose and canister don't use the jar.
Drill two holes in lid of pickle jar for tygon tubing ,snug fit,run one end of tygon tubing in radiator,auto transmission tube,rear end or anything else you want to drain and other end in hole in lid.
Then use a second piece of tygon tubing in other hole in lid and put in hose on shop vacuum and seal with duct tape or make a wooded adapter plug.Turn on the vacuum and watch the jar fill.Turn off vacuum before liquid gets into tubing going to vacuum.
Using jar allows you to inspect condition of fluid.
If its anti-freeze or other non explosive fluid and you don't mind having the fluid in the vacuum hose and canister don't use the jar.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 65
From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I just went thru this while preping my car for the Power tour. On the first drain there was not enough room to really catch the coolant and not cause a mess as, like you stated, the drain is directly over the frame. After the first drain, I removed the petcock and installed a 90 degree brass street Ellbow, 1/4 pipe thread into the rad. Then reinstall the petcock into the ellbow, pointing straight back. Now when you open the petcock, the coolant will flow into a bucket under the car with out hitting ANYTHING. You can expect about 2 1/2 gal of liquid if the system was full. By the way I am using a B-Cool alum. Rad.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
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From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Pull the lower radiator hose over a bucket; with the front of the car jacked up...pull both the lower radiator hose and the heater return at the water pump...then you can easily reconnect and flush...