[DeTomaso] Coolant drain

[Will Kooiman]

You can drain the coolant really fast if you drop a valve.


On 9/11/12 10:58 PM, "Pantdino" <pantdino at aol.com> wrote:

>
>I admire the courage you guys have. I'm too afraid of air getting trapped
>in the system to want ALL the coolant out.
>
>Personally I prefer to just park the car with the rear elevated, open the
>radiator drain petcock and air bleed valve, and be happy with what comes
>out.  Refilling then involves closing the radiator drain petcock, filling
>until no more air comes out the bleed valve, closing it, then topping up
>the system and bleeding the radiator again after allowing the car to run
>until the thermostat opens.  I empty the unpressurized tank and fill it
>with fresh antifreeze before starting the car.
>
>If you change the coolant often enough there is no reason to get it all
>out
>
>Jim
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: JDeRyke <JDeRyke at aol.com>
>To: fisher95020 <fisher95020 at yahoo.com>; detomaso <detomaso at realbig.com>
>Sent: Tue, Sep 11, 2012 8:44 pm
>Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Coolant drain
>
>
>In a message dated 9/10/12 5:25:34 PM, fisher95020 at yahoo.com writes:
>
>> I have not yet found a satisfactory way to drain the coolant on my car.
>>I 
>> have a Fluidyne rad and if you open the drain cock it will run all down
>> the front bodywork and make a large mess and take a long time.
>> 
>On our Pantera with a Fluidyne rad, I removed the lower left rad drain
>(1/4-pipe thread) and added a straight pipe-to-AN-4 fitting to take a
>stainless 
>steel line about 6" long. The line makes a 120 degree bend and winds up
>right against the backside of the radiator crossmember sheet metal, held
>there 
>with a small strap-bracket. At the end of the ss line is a commercial
>drain 
>valve. It is accessible from outside the car without jacking or turning
>the 
>wheels, if you know where to reach but is invisible from the outside. The
>valve's end hangs down 1/4" below the sheet metal but that is far from
>the 
>lowest part of the chassis right there..... Coolant drains without
>touching any 
>part of the car. The rate at which coolant drains from a rad is vastly
>increased by opening the UPPER rad air bleed valve and the rad cap, so
>air can 
>be 
>drawn in as coolant exits from the bottom drain.
>
>You can weld or braze a boss on the side of one of the the big coolant
>lines, drill & tap it for 1/4-pipe, & add a radiator drain valve. This
>will 
>drain most of the engine coolant without the valve hanging down.
>Obviously you 
>won't be able to drain it all from   a valve in the side of the pipe, but
>you 
>seldom need to drain 100%. Also obviously, you will have to jack up the
>rear somewhat to access an engine drain like this.
>
>Some guys remove the lower block plugs in the sides and add special
>radiator drains with poly hoses shoved on the drain valve's brass ends.
>This 
>would 
>also work directly as a lower left rad drain. The hoses are trimmed to
>reach 
>just below the oil pan so no draining coolant touches the pan, and can be
>tucked away when not in use. Again, you'll need to jack the rear end up
>for 
>valve(s) access. If I remember, one plug is above the starter, the other
>is 
>in a matching place on the left side of the block near the left motor
>mount. 
>Good luck- J Deryke
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