Do the engine drain plugs even exist??

[CanuckQx4]

So I think I have a problem with a huge bubble in my current cooling system and Im probably due up for a coolant swap anyways but Ive never done more on our cars then replace the rad, and I simply filled the coolant until full. I probly didnt do the procedure right since there is aparently 2 engine drain plugs.

I looked today for the bolts in the engine where these FSM pics show the drain plugs are but I certainly couldnt see them. The one on the front of the engine I just dont get, in the picture it looks like the bolt is right there, the only 2 bolts I can see from above werent corrent. Does anyone have a pic of the actual bolt in real life??



This next one I could tell right away I wasnt going to find, by looking at the picture it looks so easy, right below those 2 cylinders, but sure as shlt you cant see NOTHING down under the manifolds from above or from front. And from underneath that is where the engine mount is..



Anyone have a pic of that one??

Id really love to have a nice trouble free cooling system, this gurgling noise at startup is starting to piss me off

[Chuck Tribolet]

I found them on my '01 PF when I changed the coolant. Not easy, but they are there. You do need a way to hold the plug in
the socket. I couldn't find my socket magnets so I wrapped some blue masking tape around the plug.

A mirror on a stick helps.

It's a lot easier to see them with them rad out.

And if you do the proper venting procedure, you CAN get all the air out.


Chuck

[miamiheat3332]

i know when i did my flush, i used the one from the front of the engine from pic 1. A mirror is very helpful too, as its a little deep in there, please dont drop it, i dropped mine and it took like 2-3 hours of finding it later on, when i did find it, it was very close to the belts so i could only imagine what would happen if it went in there.

[Towncivilian]

Is it absolutely required to remove these drain plugs? I'm going to change my coolant soon and was just planning on opening the two air relief caps, draining the coolant then filling.

[miamiheat3332]

You wont get all the coolant out if you dont remove it, then properly flush it with distilled water, what i also did is filled up the rad with it, then a rag wrapped around an air compressor spray nossle, and flushed it that way.

[CanuckQx4]

nobody happen to take any pics?? This gurglings and me thinking Im going to overheat my car isnt the greatest lol. I really cant see that drain plug, I atleast wanna get that one next to the water pump cover but it must be REALLY deep in there tucked beside the a/c bracket.

The picture makes it seem so easy to find and see lol

[vannaksao]

I'll try to post some pics asap. I recently had to open both to completely flush the coolant (properly).

[CanuckQx4]

I would LOOOOOOOOOVE to see that I would really appreciate a visual and a refernce point on an ACTUAL engine, I want to put in new rad hoses, thermostat and rad cap, just waiting on the thermostat and doing it the proper way and doing a full flush would make me very happy

[vannaksao]

Ok, I'm going out there today. Gonna have my hand tied for a while but I'll def take pics, and maybe a video tour. I'll try to post tonight.

[CanuckQx4]

Id throw ya a reach around but this damn screen keeps getting in the way

thanks tho, I would appreciate it alot, I could tackle the coolant flush and thermostat tomorrow!!

[vannaksao]

The first video shows the driver side drain plug. The second video, not so helpful, but I'll post it later.

Passenger side drain bolt
First, you want to remove, disconnect, unplug anything that is in your way from removing the heat shield screws/bolts. You don't actually have to remove the heat shield itself, from its location, you just have to be able to wiggle/rotate it, so you can reach the drain bolt.

I'll post pics and continue in a minute, I have to go jump on my other computer for the pics. Have you already looked at the factory service manual? Do you know the approx. location of the passenger drain bolt?

Driver side
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56891815@N04/5254185843/

Heat Shield
I'll post this later.

[vannaksao]

Ok. So...the drain plug on the passenger.

How to reach it:

Get on your back, and slide underneath the car. Feet towards the rear, head towards the front of the car. Whether you're a lefty or righty, you're the left today...lol. Unfortunately, this was the easiest way- unless someone knows a secret or you have a lift. You'll be reaching up into the engine, wrist bend towards what will now be your 3 o'clock, towards the the passenger side (right side if the engine if your're sitting in the car looking straight forward) of the engine.

Bottom red arrow shows directional movement of arm, top arrow shows hand. Blue circles show heat shield bolt threads.


You HAVE TO remove the heat shield bolts so you can create some space between the heat shield itself and the exhaust manifold (shown in the picture), that way, you can position your hand in there. Get a bungee or something to hold the heat shield away from the exhaust mani. The drain bolt might be a 14mm, I'm not 100% sure. Use a long socket. And a rachet with a long handle. The drain bolt is bigger than the exhaust mani bolts, so think before you start loosening. Make sure its the right one. It's a little deep in there, so don't get discouraged. The first time around I thought I had it, but it actaully ended up being an exhaust mani bolt, the one that's 5 o'clock to the drain bolt in the picture.

Wear goggles and get ready to move because coolant will come pouring out. Shouldn't be too much though, onbviously you have already opened the other drain bolt, and radiator plug. After removing all the bolts, I ran a hose in one of the inlets on top to flush the engine. Just until clear water starting coming out.

Dry the areas and use thread sealant, NOT thread locker. Put the bolts back in, hand tight is fine.

Let me know how it works out, or if you have any other questions.