C5 coolant chage
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,888
Likes: 21
From: Olathe, Kansas
C5 coolant change
I'm about to change the coolant in my 2003 C5, and have a question. The instructions I'm using show a large flanged drain plug on the lower right side of the radiator. My car has a small, recessed white plug, that has a square opening to remove the plug.
Are there different plugs for the 8 model year C5's?
Are there different plugs for the 8 model year C5's?
Last edited by Bills03Coupe; Jun 4, 2020 at 11:56 PM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 490
From: Denver, NC
Read this link - has a great pic. Also, I would advise picking up a new one. There is a little metal pin in the plug that acts as the twist lock. When I drained mine, it broke out (no abnormal force, just age or a ham handed mechanic before me) and I had to go buy one. The plastic gets old.
Last edited by Ed Ramberger; Jun 5, 2020 at 08:30 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 31
Likes: 5
From: Omaha Nebraska
I need to do the same. I thought I read that the best way, although more messy, was to drain by pulling lower radiator hose. However, how would fluid in the block be drained unless t-stat was open due to engine at operating temperature?
TIA.
TIA.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 324
From: Mid Ohio
As for draining the block.. in normal operation the coolant flows from the T-Stat to the top of the rad. So... the engine and heater core drain a decent amount by just unscrewing the white plug. No need to remove hoses for just a simple drain & refill.
When refilling a good way to keep fluid from trapping air is to remove one end of the throttle body heater hose. Fill until that opened joint starts to bleed fluid. Reconnect and top off. Drive w/heater on and after a full cool down recheck the level
Last edited by wydopnthrtl; Jun 5, 2020 at 07:15 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 490
From: Denver, NC
Yes - I ran to the auto parts store and the replacement was a black plastic with a butterfly. It's easier to twist and pull.