Radiator drain plug clogged?
Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 540
Likes: 0
From: Fargo, ND
Look straight down from the upper radiator hose-- you'll see a plastic tab sticking out down at the bottom. That's the valve. The nipple you connect the tubing to is on the bottom of that. I think what I used was 3/8" ID tubing but I'm not 100% on that.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
Likes: 10
From: Gainesville, Ga.
the drain plug works kind of weird. you unscrew it a half round or so, and then pull out about 3/4 inch.
the block drain plugs are on each side of the engine, tucked in behind the motor mounts. be careful with them, they'll round off easy. mine wanted to round off, so i clamped a good pair of vice grips on them, then put a short pipe over the end for more leverage. that worked. when re-installing, use some rtv or teflon and do not overtighten. snug is good enough.
the block drain plugs are on each side of the engine, tucked in behind the motor mounts. be careful with them, they'll round off easy. mine wanted to round off, so i clamped a good pair of vice grips on them, then put a short pipe over the end for more leverage. that worked. when re-installing, use some rtv or teflon and do not overtighten. snug is good enough.
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 0
From: Texas
our motors have block drain valves? never knew that. also never looked. lol i just remove lower hose, drain rad, flush with water hose, attach lower hose & fill rad, start truck for 10 mins, drain again then top off 50/50 with anti-freeze and water
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,267
Likes: 4,197
From: Clayton MI
Not valves... but, 'plugs' you can remove at the bottom of the water jackets on each side of the block. Well, at least, according to popular theory you can remove them.... in actual practice, not so easy......
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 1
From: California
I'm glad I read this! I figured mine was clogged. I twisted it and it stopped at about a half turn. I was pretty sure it would have broken if I turned harded. I didn't think to give it a pull. And... drain plugs on the block? I didn't know that either.
You guys are teaching me gobs of stuff about this truck. You are saving me lots of $$$. (And... No, I'm not sending you your cut of my savings!)
You guys are teaching me gobs of stuff about this truck. You are saving me lots of $$$. (And... No, I'm not sending you your cut of my savings!)
This helped getting my drain plug out but now I can't get it back in. I am pushing/screwing in so hard I am worried I am going to break the plastic plug. I also even looking at the service manual can't find the drain plugs on the block =(