drain coolant on 2GR-FE - how-to

[messerchmidt]

any info available on draining the coolant in the 2gr-fe motor? one with pics?

i want to drain my coolant and put in some flush agent and ionized water in prep for a water pump change this week. thanks

[Mike Murrell]

There is a drain plug for the radiator and a drain **** for the engine block that's located down below on the front of the motor. Hard to see the engine drain **** from above.

There are plastic shrouds underneath that need to be removed in order to obtain a view of where the engine drain **** is - again - down in the lower front of motor.

If you drain from the engine drain **** you will drain the engine block and radiator.

I always remove the radiator drain plug as well anyway to catch the remaining dribble in the radiator.

If you like to flush with a garden hose - remove thermostat; then reconnect t-stat housing.

There remains the issue of flushing the heater core and that's done by removing heater hoses usually at rear of motor. I haven't explored this on a 2GR-FE and will most likely just do what I've mentioned above.

Wifes car has about 95K on the odometer - won't be long B4 I'm doing this.

[messerchmidt]

its done, thanks

[Mike Murrell]

The info I posted above about the engine coolant drain plug being more at the bottom of the engine was taken from the '06 Avalon FSM(factory service manual).

Wifes car turned 100K last week so I changed her cars coolant.

The FSM is wrong.

The engine coolant drain plug is up above - close to where the cyl head and block meet - passenger side of motor or on the left if you have hood up and are looking at the engine.

Follow the engine oil dip stick tubing. The engine coolant drain plug is right behind the 2nd bend in the engine oil dip stick tubing.

Much easier to see if you first remove the three 10mm bolts that secure the aluminum heat shield around the exhaust manifold at front of motor. Once these 3 bolts are out you can move the shield to the right and tie back with a piece of string to allow access to the engine coolant drain plug.

There's a drop down pipe you attach a piece of hose to and a 10mm bolt that's loosened to allow the coolant to flow out of the engine block.

FSM also says that by draining thru the engine coolant drain plug - you also drain the radiator. This is the case with the 2.4l Tacoma motor - but I found that the radiator did not completely drain this way. I removed the radiator drain plug after the motor drained and yet another 1/2 gal. or so of coolant came out.

Coolant overflow bottle is not affixed with bolts as it is on some makes. It simply pulls up.