Hi, everyone. I've read through the engine manual and looked over the engine and searched through this website, but I can't find all the drain plugs for draining all the antifreeze. (I'm replacing it.)
I undid the lowest hose to the heat exchanger (port side) thinking to drain it all from there, but only about 1/2 gallon comes out.
How do I get the rest of it out?
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Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
Never mind. I found it. Engine manual had stated on the wrong side. It's not under the alternator (to port). It's on the starboard side, just forward of the fuel filter.
Draining the port hose out of the heat exchanger plus this petcock on the starboard side fill almost exactly one gallon, which is what the engine spec shows.
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
Ben,
Is the petcock original? Mine has a drain plug, which lends to making a mess when you change the coolant. I would love to change to a petcock....does anyone know the size thread? How about a source or would an automotive store be the place to go?
Stephen Kruse
Kruse Control #1428
1995 C-36 MKII SR/WK
Lake Lanier, Ga.
Ben,
STOP!!! Don't use that petcock, please. Why? 'Cuz petcocks are small and that location is a bear to get anything under it to catch stuff. Once you open it, you might have difficulty replacing it.
Here's how to drain the coolant:
Engine Overheating 101 - How to Burp Your Engine (Reply #6) [url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4518.msg26462.html#msg26462[/url]
Our hot water heaters are lower than our engines, so some coolant will remain in those lines. I am in the process of replacing my hot water heater and most of all of our plumbing lines. I already replaced those hoses from the engine to the heater. I used a large pot to catch that water when I disconnected at the heater, but there wasn't much there and I could have simply left those hoses full if all I was doing was changing the coolant. 50/50 with DISTILLED water.
Good luck.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Stephan: I don't know. It appears to be original.
Stu: Too late! I already drained it. I just attached a simple plastic tube to it and it worked great. Easy-peasy.
The interesting thing is that the manual says that I have exactly one gallon of coolant and that's pretty much what came out - I filled a one gallon jug to be sure I wasn't missing any. Maybe there's just a teeny bit in the water heater and its lines?
BTW, I built my own burper, which mounts to the side not up, so I can't accidentally step on it, which should please Larry :-) Works great. I'll post that on a new thread when I have time.
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
[QUOTE=stu jackson c34;19182]Ben,
STOP!!! Don't use that petcock, please. Why? 'Cuz petcocks are small and that location is a bear to get anything under it to catch stuff. Once you open it, you might have difficulty replacing it.
[/QUOTE]
Disagree. That's what it's for, and it has a nipple to attach a hose. Even better, you can pump the new coolant back in at this location, with minimal air trapped in the system and nearly no need to burp.