Archived Radiator Drain Plug

[gsdog1]

So I am putting some more go fast goodies on the truck, some of which require the radiator to be drained a bit. I turned the drain plug 1/4 turn counter clock wise, and coolant comes out the pipe in the bottom and from around what I would call the valve body.



I couldn't get the valve to reseat or shut off. With the radiator now completely drained, I can't get the valve to do much of anything but spin round and round. My field service manual has been no help, and I went to the dealership. They ordered a new valve for me, and said it may help. The valve that they got for me ran $5, and a new radiator from them lists for $589! :--)



Any clues on the drain plug please?? How does this get replaced, and can it be done with the radiator on the truck?



Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[rweis]

You have to turn AND pull (sort of in one smooth movement) the drain plug toward the cab to remove, turn AND push (sort of in one smooth movement) toward the bumper to close.



Bob Weis

 

[gsdog1]

Thanks Bob, I appreciate the help! I think I may have stripped it out? I am pushing towards the nose of the truck and turning clockwise to get it started and it won't catch.

Any other thoughts?

 

[rweis]

Ok, sounds like you have it out.



There are some keyway like tabs on the plug itself. They have to go into the mating slot in the radiator drain line that is part of the radiator shell.



Insert the plug gently and turn it a little clockwise slowly. When the mating tabs and slot align then it will start to engage the mating slot and you will be able to push it forward otward the bumper end of the truck while turning and it will start to like screw in on a 45* thread (ie steep).



There is an O-ring on the plug you got out. If you lube the o-ring it helps some to get it to align properly.



When it aligns and starts to follow the steep thread you only turn it about 1/4 to 1/2 turn to lock it in. It should go back in as far as it came out.



My cell is 863-206-3464 if you want to call. It might be easier to explain on the phone.



Bob Weis

 

[CPG]

drain plug

This was an interesting thread. I had the misfortune to loose my coolent after getting an oil change at my dealer. By some misinformation by another customer on a coolent system change my drain plug had been loosened by mistake. I turned off the freeway about two miles from the dealer and parked by a curb when my wife noticed water coming from under the truck draining hot. I was unable to tighten the plug do to the heat so lost all the coolent.

It was noticed by me that it had just started to loseing water about 100 yards up the street. I called the dealer and a tech came with more antifreeze and proceeded to screw the loose plug in but not without difficulity. I was lucky to not have an overheating problem, but no one knew why this occured.

Thanks to Bob Weiss for his excellant answer for the plug tightening, as I could not get an answer from the dealer on this. Possibly I need another dealer.



C. Goode

 

[gsdog1]

Good news to report - the plug is back in and holding like a champ!

Thanks Bob!!

Matt

 

[Extreme1]

This was an interesting thread. I had the misfortune to loose my coolent after getting an oil change at my dealer. By some misinformation by another customer on a coolent system change my drain plug had been loosened by mistake. I turned off the freeway about two miles from the dealer and parked by a curb when my wife noticed water coming from under the truck draining hot. I was unable to tighten the plug do to the heat so lost all the coolent.

C. Goode

They probably left the plug unscrewed slightly. When the engine warmed up, pressure built up and broke the seal at the o-ring. It's a good idea to remove the plug and clean the o-ring when you drain the radiator. It seems to go back in a little easier when clean and lubed with some fresh anti-freeze.

 

[CPG]

Extreme 1, Thanks for the input. That sounds exactly what could have happened. This is sometimes the trouble when one does not do their own work.



Chuck