There are one of two ways I do it. First of all I have a car lift in my shop (got tired of rolling around on the floor) that is a REAL help. If you have the clearance, use a LARGE wash tub to catch the coolant when the knock sensors are removed. The second way is to use a tank with a vacuum pump connected to the top side of the tank and the suction on the bottom side. I use an old refrigerator compressor for the vacuum pump. You could use an old freon tank or a CLEAN propane
bottle. This setup can also be used to put fluids into the engine or trans. and etc. by applying REGULATED air pressure into the tank.
If you want more details on building something like this, send me a PM.

JTHVETTE

 

I think I can make a wet/dry vac work.

 

Hey you'll be the one doing most of the rolling around under the car, so whatever you think you can make work man ;D

Any estimates as of yet for when you think you'll get the rest of the parts? You've got about another month before school starts, then we'll probably be looking at Christmas break.

 

Brian and Nathan - I've got a 4 post lift that I assure you makes this job MUCH easier. It was great when I did my cam install.

Nathan has helped me with a lot of stuff so you are welcome to it.

Screw the "rolling around under the car" bit!

If you would like you can use it. I probably have most if not all tools you would need as well.

Just let me know when.

Later!!!!

 

Great topic.

While I am a big advocate of routine coolant changes,
for the C4 I have managed to schedule them to be done
at the dealer when it has been in for something like a
wheel balance, PS fluid flush or so on.

However, for my other cars a piece of heater hose
positioned over the fitting outlet guides coolant
down to a receptacle. For the block, if space
permits, then a funnel (bought or fab'd) at the
business end of the hose reduces spillage.

If there were any block plugs other than the KS and I
expected that I would be draining coolant more than
once, I would consider swapping the plug for a valve.
Next time I could hold the heater hose over the valve
end.

Like others, I have adapted milk containers, water
bottles and so on to create application-specific
funnels. I keep these creations in a box for the next
time.

I prefer floor-dry to sawdust. It seems to be much
more absorbant: leave it for awhile, then swish
around with a broom - repeat. Afterward, the
broom can still be used for other purposes. Floor-dry
is also non-flammable, at least until it has been used.

The suggestions about the vacuum pumps (refrig, Pella
and Little Giant) are neat, thanks. I predict a Pella in
my future.

I thought about a DYN-O-MAT but haven't come with
an answer to the question about what to do with it after
it absorbed 25 times its weight (10-20lbs x 25 times).

.