Coolant and Transmission Drain/Refill Assistance

[money3]

Hello all.

I am getting all the items ready to do a DIY coolant and transmission drain and refill. I am a semi-noob when it comes to this however (with the exception of some work on a 99 Caravan). I have searched through all the previous posts for some background info, as well as the ********** guides but still have a few questions.

Important info:
1995 Camry 1MZ-FE V6 ~280000km

Fluids:
Some generic premixed coolant
Motomaster ATF fluid (label indicates Dexron 2 and 3 compliant)

Problem areas:
-Having some difficulty locating the rad drain **** (not planning on draining the engine block as it is too much hassle)
-The Toyota manuals indicate a 10mm hexagon wrench as needed to open the drain but the 10mm socket I have does not fit. Is there a special tool or different name for this tool?

Essentially, I wanted to know if my choices of fluids are ok and if somebody could guide me in the problem areas?

Thank you

[ycartf]

The radiator drain is located at the bottom inner side somewhere (Gen4 on the driver's side of center). If you cannot find it you can disconnect the lower radiator hose. If you want to drain all the coolant do this - A buddy and I (on his wife's 2001 Gen4) took the thermostat housing off and opened the heater control to all-the-way-hot (car cold and not running), disconnected the radiator end of the top hose and duct-taped a blower to it - then blew all the old coolant out that was trapped in places I could not drain even after draining the block and changing the water pump. Looking back we would have shrouded it somehow to maybe keep it from blowing all over everything but it worked like a charm.

The transmission drain plug is a 10mm Allen - the one I use is just a 3/8" drive socket that is 10mm Allen.

[toyomoho]

Suggest using a long life coolant that is silicate and borate free. Prestone and Havoline make such fluids, mix with distilled water.

For ATF use any name brand Dexron III.

[Hajoca]

Motor master ATF is fine, Stick to Toyota red and distilled water for coolant.
At this age (milage) you should consider changing the hoses - rad , bypass (under intake plenum) and heater.

And changing thermostat if that has not been done yet.