Please help with coolant drain and air release locations.

[kuzals]

I have a 1989 left-hand drive 240sx.

I'm getting white smoke so I thought I'd try some gasket/block sealer. To do that, I need to flush/fill the cooling system. I did a flush sort-of according to instructions, thinking I could get away without using the engine block drain. This failed, as I can't fill more than three litres/quarts of coolant (they're about the same amount) into the radiator. Also, the coolant in there doesn't seem to be moving, even with the car on. Is that normal?

I have a Chilton's manual (hasn't been of too much use so far) which doesn't tell me where to find the drain plug, and has very sketchy, useless information about the air release valve (has some crappy diagram, nothing else).

I've also searched on these boards and I'm afraid I don't know enough about cars to find the plug based on other information (it's supposed to be near the O2 sensor?).

If someone could please post detailed information, or better yet a picture, on where these two items are, that would be really appreciated!

Right now, my car is sitting outside on the driveway, jacked up the front, and tonight's temperatures are dropping below freezing. I have the rad cover open in hopes that it bleeds itself enough to accept a normal amount of coolant/distilled water.

*fingers crossed*

[SimpleEnigma]

After my accident in march, the trick i used to drain the block was just first turn the heater all the way to hot, remove the radiator cap, then remove the lower coolant hose. This almost completely drained my motor and radiator (cheap plastic OEM end tanks were shot anyway). something that would help with this is to jack up the driver's side of the car before pulling the lower coolant hose.

if the coolant doesnt seem to be moving even after you have refilled the radiator, you may have an air bubble stuck somewhere. unfortunately for the 240sx, there is no easy quick way to push the bubble out, just run the motor with the cap off and fill the radiator as needed.

Personally, im not a fan of using stuff like Bars Leaks, but i have used it in the past to plug a few radiators and it has worked fine for me. just make sure you shake it up really well.

Hope this helps.....oh and there is a sticky in the 240sx/Silva forum with a link for a downloadable PDF FSM.

[tonynalli]

sorry for brining this up from the dead..but there is a little bolt that you can remove where the upper radiator hose attached to that you can losen..but make sure you put it on wth a nut driver that has been magnetized.it will be hot..just run your car up to operational temp and leave it open...let it spill out and rev your car up a little and close it up