Draining Coolant: engine drain plug??

[boogleking]

Hello all,

I'm flushing the coolant system on an 89 3S-FE. The manual says to open up 2 drain plugs. I can see the radiator drain plug, but can anyone tell me where the engine drain plug is? Is this best accessed from below?? Looks like its a hex head - size?

Thanks

Zach

[timebuilder]

It's below the EGR by several inches on the right rear of the engine block.

See if a 12 mm fits.

[Tommy]

you dont need to mess with that, just take the lower radiator hose off and get the heat running. that way you can run water through it, and get everything out of the heater core too. when it runs clear, its flushed.

[IvanHoe]

Originally Posted by Tommy

you dont need to mess with that, just take the lower radiator hose off and get the heat running. that way you can run water through it, and get everything out of the heater core too. when it runs clear, its flushed.

Beat me to it.

[jtu100]

Originally Posted by Tommy

you dont need to mess with that, just take the lower radiator hose off and get the heat running. that way you can run water through it, and get everything out of the heater core too. when it runs clear, its flushed.

What do you mean by get the 'heat' running? Start the engine? Start water pump?

My girlfriend just managed to crack the top of my radiator... I beleive it over heated because the fans are not working. So I'm gonna have to do my first radiator replacement soon!

[Tommy]

na, turn the heater on before you start. that way the bypass to the core will open up and you can get the coolant thats in the heater core out too.

[jtu100]

Presumably the engine should be running or not?

[Tommy]

Try it running and see how that works for ya....


personally, i dont like my car to spew coolant at me while im working on it.....

[71Corolla]

It's best to take the drain plug out of the block to make sure you get all of the old coolant out. Fill it up with water slowly, run for a bit then drain everything out and fill with new coolant.

[marc780]

BTW important note: DONT add cold water to a hot or warm engine!!! (Unless the engine is running.) You can crack the block doing that, then what you going to do