Radiator / Engine coolant drain
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Columbus GA
Radiator / Engine coolant drain
Can any one tell me the most effecient way to drain a C5 Z06 Radiator. I had mine on a lift last night and used the radiator drain, but was only able to get a little less than a gallon out. Car was warmed up, is there a trick or "secret handshake" for this?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 96
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From: Columbus GA
It appears to me that the lower radiator hose comes into the radiator above the drain device. I did remove the coolant reservoir cap prior. It could be my lift is nose high for some reason. Could you just shove a floor jack under the rear end and get enough slant to get the fluid out of the block?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 35
From: Rowlett, Texas
Never found an easy way to get more than about half out. You can drain the petcock, than unbolt the thermo housing, and still a gallon or so stays in the engine.
So, you can refill with plain water and purge a few times; then try to calculate the proper amount of A/F to add back in. A much easier solution for me is to drain the petcock about every two years, and top up with fresh 50/50 DEXCool. That gets the PH level back in line and turns over the majority of the coolant within the 5-year recommendation. So far so good, 12 years and very clean system with zero issues.
DG
So, you can refill with plain water and purge a few times; then try to calculate the proper amount of A/F to add back in. A much easier solution for me is to drain the petcock about every two years, and top up with fresh 50/50 DEXCool. That gets the PH level back in line and turns over the majority of the coolant within the 5-year recommendation. So far so good, 12 years and very clean system with zero issues.
DG
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 7
From: St. Paul MN
I agree with The Wrench, the hangup to getting more out is your thermostat. It closes at 190*, and pretty well seals off the block to be a closed loop, preventing drainage into the radiator. So "warm" isn't quite good enough. The flushing machines operate with the thermostat open (hot), and can cycle all the fluid.
Each half of the block has separate in & out ducts, so unless you pull the water pump itself, there isn't a good way to vacate the block. I pulled my water pump in the process of swapping the cam, and can say that a wet/dry shopvac does wonders at sucking more fluid out. I pulled a half-gallon more from the head cavities after the pump was removed.
Todd
Each half of the block has separate in & out ducts, so unless you pull the water pump itself, there isn't a good way to vacate the block. I pulled my water pump in the process of swapping the cam, and can say that a wet/dry shopvac does wonders at sucking more fluid out. I pulled a half-gallon more from the head cavities after the pump was removed.
Todd
