2010 Radiator draincock o-ring replacement question...

[KOwens]

Any of you guys completely remove the petcock from your radiator during the draining process...so you could replace the o-ring seal...assuming it has an o-ring seal?

I've got my 2010 radiator draining at the moment...petcock turned roughly one full turn CCW...pretty good flow going now that the overflow is empty and air has entered the system. So removed the radiator pressure cap...and it is draining nicely.

Just read some things about guys having petcock leaks after refilling their radiators...and some discovered the o-ring seal was damaged or flattened out enough to leak once refilled.

Anyway, if any of you have completely removed your petcock from the radiator...do you simply pull it out once it has stopped turning CCW? Seems I can't turn mine any further CCW...an with very light pressure, it won't pull out either. Do I get manly with it...or is there a smarter alternative in getting it out? Any tricks I should know about?

Any insight you could provide would be useful.

Thanks, Kevin

 

[KOwens]

Hey...no worries guys...fiddled with it a bit and it popped right out. Off to the Napa store to get a replacement o-ring.

All is well, Kevin

 

[JohnCW]

As you know I just serviced my coolant on the 2011 , I was amazed at how clean and uncontaminated the factory drained fluid appeared , this HOAT might be good stuff after all .
It is mind boggling how many types of antifreeze there are now and wonder how vehicles are serviced with the wrong type.
John

 

[KOwens]

Yeah John...my drained coolant was extremely clean as well...and man-o-man was that air bleed plug in tight! I ended up sliding a piece of 3/8" thick aluminum bar stock behind the air bleed pipe so it didn't twist so much while I was torqueing on it...and it finally broke free with an audible snap! Had some serious "red" thread locker on it...and perhaps was torqued way past 55 in. lbs. Seems surprising they went to so much trouble...since it seems to seal just as well with the recommended 55 in. lbs. of torque and no thread locker.

Like you, after a test drive, I was able to burp out a small amount of air from the air bleed tube...and add a small amount of coolant to the radiator. I then put about 20 miles on the truck last evening...before scrubbing off the front and rear differentials with a garden hose and a scrub brush. Getting the axles ready for a service today since my Mag Hytec rear cover has arrived. Should be more fun without all that mud caked on the covers!

After my 20 mile drive, I noticed some coolant had pushed out of the radiator and into the overflow reservoir...removing the air gap I could see in the formed plastic reservoir tubing during the draining process. So I'm hopeful all the remaining air in the radiator has been removed...but we'll see when I jump out in the garage in a bit and check the air bleed again. Not sure how many cycles that will ultimately take...so we'll see. Just want it to be as good as it can get.

Anyway, John, thanks for all the input...appreciate the help!

Have a great day...Kevin

 

[JohnCW]

Report following 450 miles, checked for air at vent and found no air bubble.

Now, about that vent being real tight from the factory, rumor has it the gorilla that they used for oil filters was moved over to erg vent install.

 

[KOwens]

Thanks for the update John,

I'll check mine again after getting few miles on it as well...did the front and rear axle service and replaced the rear cover with a Mag Hytec cover this weekend. Also put a set Bilstein shocks on (Shocktober Fest at Geno's this month, right?).

Anyway, been a busy bee on the truck...and just posted a thread about the serpentine belt. Bought one from Geno's as well, but thought I'd test the water before jumping in. That electrical connector on the front of the viscous fan has me worried.

Thanks again, Kevin

 

[MLee]

Report following 450 miles, checked for air at vent and found no air bubble.

Now, about that vent being real tight from the factory, rumor has it the gorilla that they used for oil filters was moved over to erg vent install.

NO----- He has a brother!!!!!!!! and they hired him toooooooooo.

 

[KOwens]

Must have huge arms...that air bleed plug was really tough to remove...and I was certain I would break something while trying to remove it!

 

[Bill Stockard]

NO----- He has a brother!!!!!!!! and they hired him toooooooooo.

Yep, they hide both of them in a store room when a factory tour is scheduled.:-laf

Bill