Engine Block Coolant Drain Plug?

[Wiredawg]

Fellow Rammers:

I went to change my coolant yesterday and could not find a coolant drain plug on the block. I have a factory manual which does not reference one either. Based upon 24 qt capacity, I only got out 16 qts, leaving around 8 qts in the block. Does this sound right?

On a final note, I put in Cummins' extended use collant, which recommends drianing all the old coolant out to get the extended capability of the new coolant. Not sure how the collant left in the block will effect performance of new coolant.

Appreciate any comments.

Wiredawg


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2000 4X4 SLT QC 8' bed; 6 spd, 3. 54 ; BD exhaust brake and 4" exhaust syst; TST PM2; Airlift Super Duty rear air bags; RS 9000 shocks; pyro/boost gauges in 2 gauge a-pillar mount; back preasure gauge mounted under dash; KN air filter; Brown's Welding brush/grill guard, rear bumper & headache rack; nerf bars and aluminum roll top rear cover, Warn front receiver and Hadley air horns, 20K Reese hitch,Mag-Hytec dif cover,Psycotty Air.

 

[Cooker]

Check this out:
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum4/HTML/000229.html

Never heard of a engine block coolant plug on the Cummins. The Dodge gassers have one.

-Ryan

 

[Wiredawg]

Cooker:

Thanks for the reference. I wish I would have posted question before changing my coolant. I flushed with tap water until it ran clear. Then I filled with 50/50 mix of Cummins coolant and distilled water. Still have a lot of tap water in there.

I guess I'll fish out my old hydrometer to see how all that water affected my coolant water ratio.

I may reaccomplish coolant change, although it will be costly.

Any thoughts on this?

Wiredawg

 

[trning]

I work as a mechanic for a company with a large fleet of trucks. We used to use extended life coolant but found that it was eating up water pumps and radiators. The stuff we used was from texaco and was red.
We went back to the green stuff and the problems went away.

 

[Wiredawg]

Turning:

Thanks for the response. I didn't realize I was getting extended coolant. I called the Cummins dealer, told them I have a Dodge ISB 24V and ordered their concentrated coolant. They sent me the extended service coolant. I figure it's sold by Cummins for Cummins engines, so hopefully there are no issues.

I'm still not real sure what I'm gonna do. I may calculate adjusted mix percentage based upon the amount of water left in the block. Then, drain the amount of mix out of radiator and add concentrate to bring me back to 50/50.

Boy, who knew this was gonna be this hard? #ad


Wiredawg

 

[radixr]

I think if you back up your truck on some ramps (preferably on a slight slope) to raise the back of the engine and remove your lower radiator hose (after draining the radiator) you will be able to get most of the coolant out.

I apologize in advance for invading the overvalved side. #ad


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1996 Dodge 2500 4X4 SC, SLT,Cummins 12V, 5-spd. , JRE 4" exhaust (my kitty ran away into the woods and the muffler fell off!), TST 280 HP/685 Ft-Lb Uprate Kit, AFC Spring Kit, ATS 3-piece Exhaust Manifold, Chrome Valve Covers, Horton Fan Clutch, Jacobs/Ram Exhaust Brake, MagHytec Differential Cover, Prime-Loc, Rancho RS9000 Shocks, Combo Gauge, K&N Air Filter, Brite-Box, Geno's finger-touch oil pan drain plug, Optima Yellow Tops, no turbo silencer ring, full-time fog lights. As of 5-19-01, 68,522 miles.

 

[Cooker]

I'm personally not a big fan of the extended life coolant either. I use John Deere Cool Guard and just bought some of the premixed freeze in 2. 5 gallon jugs for $17. 50.

As far as having some water left in there, hmmm? I don't think I'd be too concerned about it, but I am sort of anal about things like this so I guess I'd probably change it again, even knowing that I didn't need to.