Can someone please tell me if the rad has a drain plug if so where is it. Also how much antifreeze do I need?
any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Its down on the bottom under the shroud... But I don't recommend using it as they have a tendency to be hard to open and close as in they leak after you use them and they like to snap off..ouch.

The flush kit 00DakDan suggests is the best way

 

My drain plug is on the drivers side of the radiator, not the back. There is an extension tube on it.

 

Personally I don't use the kit


I prefer pulling the bottom rad hose but that's not possible on any 2000 and up Dakota as the safety freaks moved the output hose to mid rad forcing you to use such a kit.


At that time they installed all the shrouding preventing or making it hard to work on your engine or anything in the engine bay for your safety.


They think most of use are........ S T U P I D

 

Thanks for all of your help. But have one question left. Do I need to reuse the spring inside the lower radiator hose?

 

If it has a spring, yes, you need it. It keeps the hose from collapsing. If you haven't changed the hose, replace it. They don't last forever.

 

Is the spring rust free in good shape?

If so reuse it

I never liked the springs if they rust and come apart the spring may get sucked through the cooling system potentially lodging in the thermostat or getting inside the water pump this could damage the water pump.

This happened to my Dad's car trashed the pump


The solid molded hoses are the best safest

 

Omg after purchasing a hytec water pump with a aluminum propeller instead of plastic and a new lower rad hose. It was the lower spring that got inside the thermostat housing. It rusted off somehow.
Thanks for all of your help.

 

Where can I get a new radiator drain plug please help me find a new one.

 

Try a parts store or even the dealer. If not, maybe a boneyard.

What happened to the one you had?