Radiator Drain Plug Question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 48
From: NJ
Radiator Drain Plug Question
Recently changed coolant & hoses. Drove a few hundred miles since, but just noticed some coolant on garage floor. It's coming from drain plug, which seems to be seated properly (I got my 1/8" drive & turned in counter clockwise a bit then clockwise to be sure its in).
Got a new plug on hand. How do you get the old one out WITHOUT BREAKING ANYTHING??
Got a new plug on hand. How do you get the old one out WITHOUT BREAKING ANYTHING??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 408
From: Horseshoe Bend ID
The OEM drain plug is a fragile POS. It is real easy to break the pin off. Turn it 90 CCW (ONLY 90 degrees) and pull straight out with pliers. Then check to see if it has a pin on ONE side and an o-ring still on. If all that is good, then replace with new plug. If any of that is missing you will have to figure out if it is jammed up in the drain hole. I used an inspection camera when I had the same problem--good luck.
Last edited by jcgunn; Aug 21, 2011 at 12:50 PM. Reason: correction
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 48
From: NJ
Thanks for the help guys!
Since I only put 3k miles annually on my Vette...& change coolant every 3-4 yrs....I doubt it's corrosion. Probably the o-ring as you suggested.
I just hate to waste 2 gallons of new Dex-Cool. But I guess there's no way to save it if changing the drain plug.
Since I only put 3k miles annually on my Vette...& change coolant every 3-4 yrs....I doubt it's corrosion. Probably the o-ring as you suggested.
I just hate to waste 2 gallons of new Dex-Cool. But I guess there's no way to save it if changing the drain plug.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 48
From: NJ
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
If you want to make sure that you have filtered the DexCool properly, put a coffee filter paper in the funnel. It will be a little slower to fill, but it will definitely get the garbage out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 408
From: Horseshoe Bend ID
What he said...FWIW I changed out the coolant after 75K and 8 years and it looked good as new.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I did that recently when I was changing my coolant recovery tank. Sloooow process though. 
Painters use disposable paper funnels with a screen mesh built in for when they pour from the can into their paint guns. Much better. Cheap too.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
Coolant can look fine but still be corrosive, with no anticorrosion additive left. The only way to be sure is to use a coolant test kit for long life coolant.
These kits will allow you to check PH, anticorrosion additive level and freeze protection.
Coolant slowly becomes corrosive because minute amounts of carbon dioxide from the combustion process gets into the coolant, molecule by molecule, past the head gasket, forming carbonic acid. Once the anticorrosion additive is gone, the coolant will eat something else, like headgasket steel and aluminum parts.
Another option to using a test kit is to change coolant frequently, every three years for long life and every two for standard green appearing coolant. These intervals are conservative, of course, but you usually are unable to get all of the coolant out on a change without removing the waterpump.
These kits will allow you to check PH, anticorrosion additive level and freeze protection.
Coolant slowly becomes corrosive because minute amounts of carbon dioxide from the combustion process gets into the coolant, molecule by molecule, past the head gasket, forming carbonic acid. Once the anticorrosion additive is gone, the coolant will eat something else, like headgasket steel and aluminum parts.
Another option to using a test kit is to change coolant frequently, every three years for long life and every two for standard green appearing coolant. These intervals are conservative, of course, but you usually are unable to get all of the coolant out on a change without removing the waterpump.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
If you DRAIN IT IN A PAN you won't LOOSE IT
Thanks for the help guys!
Since I only put 3k miles annually on my Vette...& change coolant every 3-4 yrs....I doubt it's corrosion. Probably the o-ring as you suggested.
I just hate to waste 2 gallons of new Dex-Cool. But I guess there's no way to save it if changing the drain plug.
Since I only put 3k miles annually on my Vette...& change coolant every 3-4 yrs....I doubt it's corrosion. Probably the o-ring as you suggested.
I just hate to waste 2 gallons of new Dex-Cool. But I guess there's no way to save it if changing the drain plug.
It's NOT MILK, won't spoil when it hits the air.
Have done this several times when I had to replace a defective water pump multiple times in a few months. Its not going to be ruined by draining and replacing with a funnel.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 48
From: NJ
Well, after draining coolant into a clean jug....
replacing drain plug....
refilling cooling system....
bleeding system....
going on a test drive....
guess what?
next day there was more coolant on garage floor...again!
So this time I looked from top down.
turns out one of the small coolant hoses on right side was leaking....
& making it's way down to bottom shelf...
right under drain plug!
Took off air intake assembly & related parts in order to get to the only hose which is NOT accessible (of course) & snugged up worm gear clamp.
PROBLEM SOLVED!
replacing drain plug....
refilling cooling system....
bleeding system....
going on a test drive....
guess what?
next day there was more coolant on garage floor...again!
So this time I looked from top down.
turns out one of the small coolant hoses on right side was leaking....
& making it's way down to bottom shelf...
right under drain plug!
Took off air intake assembly & related parts in order to get to the only hose which is NOT accessible (of course) & snugged up worm gear clamp.
PROBLEM SOLVED!
