flushing cooling question

[1996camry]

I had flushed my antifreeze for a year ago, but now it is time to flush my antifreeze again on 96 Toyota Camry Le 4 Cylinder...

This time I try to locate my drain block on my 96 engine..but I can't locate drain block....can someone help to point where to look if I stand in front (face radiator) look into the engine...
in the past, i just flush antifreeze out of the radiator only... I read in this forum, people mention I also need drain block when I do antifreeze flush, too.. can anyone help me on this? plan to do this on this weekend...with Toyota Antifreeze only...last longer and keep my engine prolong...

thanks

[hooRAH]

I can't tell you where the block drain is, but I'm sure is listed in the 5SFE factory manual thats posted on the board somewhere.

I don't usually drain the block when I flush antifreeze if the kind I'm replacing it with is the same kind thats coming out, for 3 reasons:

1 - Most cars on the road get little to 0 maintenance. The coolants are getting to a point where I see very little rust, scale, or corrosion even after 5,6,7 years. If they can go that long without doing anything, I'm sure that flushing just the radiator is tons better than that. Then again, thats what I see mostly from cars that are 5,6,7 years old, which leads me to my second reason:

2 - Since I'm a car guy, everyone always thinks they'll bring their car over to me for free work. I help them out because I'm nice (and I know they won't do ANYTHING if I don't do it, so I would hate to see what would happen), but since most people are on a shoestring budget, I cut corners on their cars.

3 - If the coolant is supposed to be changed every 4 years, I find that its easier to flush just the radiator every 2 years or twice as often (and get more than 1/2 out) and do it twice than it is to get under the car, pull the block drain, and do it all at once. Probably better for the car too since you're getting more than 50% out each time.

[toyomoho]

The block drain may be behind the block nearer the driver’s side. It is a small pipe thread plug, difficult to get to without taking off the large diameter plastic engine air intake hose running from the air cleaner. Reach around behind the engine and find the nearest freeze plug, the drain plug is within about a couple of inches of this plug.

Remember the heater core also retains fluid even after the block and radiator are drained. To remove this you will need to remove a hose, then apply air pressure (or blow) to remove the water.

[Bear95]

Raise you car on ramps or jack stands and look straight up past the rear motor mount and you will see the drain plug...very easy to remove this way!
Bear

[tarbasd]

I reached it from below, too. You have to jack up the car, climb under the engine: the drain plug is on the back side facing the firewall. There is only a little space, so it was quite difficult for me to unscrew it. And then coolant spalshed everywhere, so it was also pretty messy.

[1996camry]

do you think it is neccessary to drain antifreeze out Block? if i just drain the antifreeze out of radiator, it is good enought? anything i have to do or miss while i'm in there (flush) antifreeze out..

[dc_98_cam]

Originally Posted by 1996camry

do you think it is neccessary to drain antifreeze out Block? if i just drain the antifreeze out of radiator, it is good enought? anything i have to do or miss while i'm in there (flush) antifreeze out..

.... not a major project to drain the block, and better results. Get a pan or tub, maybe a length of hose.

... just have vehicle well supported when you are beneath it. Use chock behind rear tires to insure there is no movement of vehicle. Also, better to place jack stand supports under chassis frame rails once you have it up high enough with jack.