coolant sys: relief on block stripped; options???

Solidox2k · May 16th, 2005, 05:17 AM

i started draining the coolant, radiator, fine. 2 relief plugs fine..... but the the relief plug on the block is stripped and i cant, short of drilling, get it out. so i was only able to do a 'half-ass' job. i was thinking about maybe something with a water hose flowing in the radiator and running the car with the other plugs open (excluding radiator and block), until eventually it came out rather clear from the plugs...maybe saving me trouble of draining and flushing at once. your thoughts? good, bad idea?

when i replaced the pump and thermostat, i put permatex (sp?) sealant on the mating surfaces and also used the the 'paper' gaskets supplied in combination.... to me seems like 'xtra' protection...but want your opinions...

...hoping for some quick help... i leave for austin later this week; want to be sure of no coolant leaks. im going to try using the 'water hose' method in the morning, just really want to know if this is a big no-no before i try it. any help greatly appreciated ^^

IanH · May 16th, 2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solidox2k

i started draining the coolant, radiator, fine. 2 relief plugs fine..... but the the relief plug on the block is stripped and i cant, short of drilling, get it out. so i was only able to do a 'half-ass' job. i was thinking about maybe something with a water hose flowing in the radiator and running the car with the other plugs open (excluding radiator and block), until eventually it came out rather clear from the plugs...maybe saving me trouble of draining and flushing at once. your thoughts? good, bad idea?

when i replaced the pump and thermostat, i put permatex (sp?) sealant on the mating surfaces and also used the the 'paper' gaskets supplied in combination.... to me seems like 'xtra' protection...but want your opinions...

...hoping for some quick help... i leave for austin later this week; want to be sure of no coolant leaks. im going to try using the 'water hose' method in the morning, just really want to know if this is a big no-no before i try it. any help greatly appreciated ^^

Permatex is great particularly if you have a problem area, and yes I have used it the past as a matter of routine.... Downside is clean up next time around, so if its accessible and not a problem area consider just using the gasket.

I not sure that draining the block to replace the coolant is absolutely necessary so long as you do not suspect an exhaust gas leak into the coolant turning it acidic. If the car is "normal" then the vast majority of the coolant with its additives will be replaced with fresh.

Flushing with a hose will leave tap water instead of old coolant in the block, not my idea of a good job. I would prefer the old coolant to tap water with its chlorine and mineral deposits.....

Use distilled water with your new coolant, from the grocery store is OK, make sure it says distilled, NOT de-ionized.

Good luck....
Enjoy Austin and don't miss the bat flight from the congress street bridge at Dusk, follow the signs to free parking areas....

MShorten · May 16th, 2005, 11:11 AM

Have you tried just filling it with just the air relief plugs open and filling until water comes out of them? You might try to do it in cycles... fill, tighten everything up, run the car, let it cool, open, refill and see if you get more air out. Air will still flow to the highest point, so I think this will be "good enough".

That's funny, because I was just doing the same thing this weekend, flushing out the old antifreeze and I was just thinking that getting that bolt stuck would be a pisser.

Regards,
Michael

Solidox2k · May 16th, 2005, 08:23 PM

thanx for the replies. i'll try using coolant and doing what MShorten said.

just wondering if i could find a shortcut with draining using tap water.....but didnt think about the minerals and stuff in it... having that sitting in there for a while could be bad. thanx IanH.

woke up late, so havent done it yet, but will get on it soon here. thanx.