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I just finished my annual radiator drain and fill. Didn't take long. And no it doesn't get all of the fluid changed out, but since I do it annually, I will get a 98% changeover every 4 years. Also changed the bottom radiator hose and t stat while I was at it.
Biggest pain of the job was squeezing the hose free of air bubbles so the new coolant would circulate properly.
AFter changing the coolant, you want to check the circulation of the coolant by turning on the engine and turning on the heat full blast. Then wait for the temperature guage to rise, and check to see if you are having heat come out of the vents. If no heat, then what you have is trapped air in the lines of the coolant, that is preventing the coolant from circulating, definitely not a good thing.
So take your thumb and forefinger and squeeze your radiator upper hose from one end to the other (much like if you were trying to get all of the toothpaste out of the tube). This pushes the air bubble out of the way and allows coolant to circulate, heat in the car and most importantly-engine to cool off.
a little off the topicbut you guys sound like you know what you are doing.....with that said, how does one change the thermostat on the 3vzfe(namely where is it?), on every car i have worked on it is always on the top but the t-stat that i purchased is much larger than that....does any one have a procedure for doing this.....is the t-stat under the alternator?
I desperately need to revive this thread. Everything went well on the cooling flush until I tried to loosen the drain plug on the engine block.. On my 96 corolla it is very difficult to access because of proximity to oil filter and alternator. It look like I loosed it but it wont come out all the way, damn it! Could this be because I tried to loosen while the block was hot? Did I screw something up? I don't think so, but I would like some feedback please. I am thinking of letting it cool down over night and giving it another go, your feeback is apperciated. Thank you.
I wanted to add one general and one specific hint for flushing coolant and did not want to start a new thread.
GENERAL TIP: If you want to clean out the gunk inside your overflow bottle, take it off, drain it, fill it 1/3 full of clean water, put in a handful of ice cubes, and shake vigorously.
SPECIFIC TIP: For 5S-FE (my car is in my signature). When removing the engine block coolant plug, try to hold on to the plug when it comes out. Last night, when I removed mine, I dropped it as soon as it came out of the block. It took me 45 minutes to find and retrieve it. After much searching, I found I could barely see it with a light and a mirror. It had dropped into a metal brace and was almost impossible to get back out. Sometimes, my life really sux! Luckily, I had a magnet that I could push in the hole to retrieve the plug. Whew!
I hope these tips help any shade-tree mechanics out there!
__________________
Digger1
"If you don't understand the technology you depend upon, you will someday be a victim of that technology."
Good suggestion, hey I am just north of you by Parker. I would add if your car has any miles on it be real careful trying to drain the engine block. I tried that on my 96 corolla and it froze. Luckily it isn't leaking at all.
I wanted to add one general and one specific hint for flushing coolant and did not want to start a new thread.
GENERAL TIP: If you want to clean out the gunk inside your overflow bottle, take it off, drain it, fill it 1/3 full of clean water, put in a handful of ice cubes, and shake vigorously.
SPECIFIC TIP: For 5S-FE (my car is in my signature). When removing the engine block coolant plug, try to hold on to the plug when it comes out. Last night, when I removed mine, I dropped it as soon as it came out of the block. It took me 45 minutes to find and retrieve it. After much searching, I found I could barely see it with a light and a mirror. It had dropped into a metal brace and was almost impossible to get back out. Sometimes, my life really sux! Luckily, I had a magnet that I could push in the hole to retrieve the plug. Whew!
I hope these tips help any shade-tree mechanics out there!
wheres the coolant plug? i couldnt see it...do you have to get under the car and search on the back of the block?
Good suggestion, hey I am just north of you by Parker. I would add if your car has any miles on it be real careful trying to drain the engine block. I tried that on my 96 corolla and it froze. Luckily it isn't leaking at all.
Dan
Hi Dan,
Thnx for the heads-up.
I generally find that if I can get this plug loose the first time I change coolant in a new car (I do the first coolant change when the car has about 30K miles on it) that I'll have good luck the rest of the time I have the car (I change coolant and remove the engine plug every 30K miles). I slather a bit of gasket shellac on the plug's threads before I pop it back in.
Drive safe!
__________________
Digger1
"If you don't understand the technology you depend upon, you will someday be a victim of that technology."
wheres the coolant plug? i couldnt see it...do you have to get under the car and search on the back of the block?
White,
I'm not sure what model Camry you've got. My car is in my signature.
On my car, the plug is on the (engine) right side of the block, toward the rear of the engine, not very far from the transmission. Keep in mind that the front of my engine points toward the passenger side of the car.
To find the plug, I jack the front end of the car up. I then lay under the car with my head toward the rear of the car and feet sticking out under the front bumper. My head is just to the passenger side of the exhaust pipe (flex-pipe section) and a little to the rear of the flex-pipe section. Laying on my back like that, I then look up (straight toward the ceiling of my garage) and a little to the left, at the (engine) right side of the block. When I do this, I can see the engine block coolant plug sitting there bigger than Dallas, on the lower part of the block, facing rearward. Use a good light.
If you have a V6, ur on ur own!
Check it out!
NOTE: If this plug has not been removed since the car was built, be aware that it can be a real bitch to get out!
__________________
Digger1
"If you don't understand the technology you depend upon, you will someday be a victim of that technology."
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