QuestionI lost all the antifreeze during the summer and filled the system with just water. It is now late fall and I need to add antifreeze but cannot find the valve to drain the water from the cooling system. I haven't done this in years but there used to be a valve at the bottom of the radiator. Can you tell me how to drain it?
AnswerHi Bruce,
There is a drain on the lower right rear side of the radiator. Use the finger to open the drain cock, not a pliers if possible. The water drains out the bottom through a hole in the insulator and then a hole in the understructure. Also open the overflow bottle cap and the bleed valve at the thermostat housing on the top front of the engine. If you want drain the cylinder block from the drain plugs located below each manifold.
Then refill:
Close radiator drain, hand tighten only
Install cylinder block drain plugs if removed earlier (located behind each exhaust manifold)
Attach one end of 1/4 inch ID clear hose that is 4 feet long to the bleed valve on the thermostat housing. Route the hose away from the accessory drive belt, drive pulley, and electric fan. Place the other end into a clean container. The hose will prevent coolant from contacting the accessory drive belt when bleeding the system during refill operations.
Open the bleed valve
Slowly fill coolant fill coolant pressure bottle until a steady stream of coolant flows from hose attached to the bleed valve.
Gently squeeze upper radiator hose until all air is removed from system.
Close bleed valve and continue filling to the top of the coolant deaeration pressure bottle.
Install cap on coolant pressure bottle
Remove hose from bleed valve
That is the procedure, and best of luck on doing it.
Roland
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