clarehills

Hi,
I have a 2000 Mustang Vert 3.8L V6. I am going to drain the coolant tomorrow (yes a thursday - being layed off has its merits ) to change it and was wondering if anyone has found the "Engine Block Drain Plugs" that the Haynes manual mentions - I have looked thoroughly the previous few times I changed the coolant and just could not find the bloody things.

Any hints? Do they just not exist?
Thanks!
Clarehills

RyansQuick6

You don't remove them to do a flush. Just follow the instructions on the bottle of "Coolant Flush" and you'll be all set.

haystackstang

+1 ftw

clarehills

Thanks for the responses. I was not aware we could do a flush without a machine of some kinds.

>I assume by flush you mean running the engine and passing new coolant in and letting the old coolant flow out.

I was going to:
1) Drain the coolant at the spigot at the bottom of the radiator
2) Close spigot and Pour in prestone coolant flush/conditioner
3) Run the engine till hot then for 10 minutes with the heat turned on full
4) Repeat step 1 and 2 but with water
5) Repeat step 3
6) Repeat step 1 and 2 but with coolant and distilled water at 50/50

Now, if I could find the engine block drain plugs I would be able to get out more of the old crappy coolant - is there a better way that I am missing out on?

Does anyone know where the drain plugs are anyway?
Thanks,
Clarehills

RyansQuick6

The drain plug is at the bottom of the radiator, just a little white plastic butterly nut style head on it.

Removing block plugs is only beneficial when the block is getting a dipped to be cleaned for machine work/reebuild, in this caase its a lot of work for nothing.

The instructions you posted are correct, but you JUST drain the radiator and then refill with the flush and water. If you want to be superclean, then flush the system twice, and THEN replace the thermostat and gasket. While you're at it, go ahead and replace all your hoses as well, just so it's done and out of the way.

clarehills

Thanks Ryan - good to know what they are for.

Matt's 95 Stang

Isnt using just water not good for the engine. You get pitting and stuff from the crap in the water. I know you replace the water with coolent but i was still under the impression you should never put straight water in the rad/engine.

Matthew

haystackstang

i used striaght water and cooling system flush when i did mine

RyansQuick6

You use water for the flush, then you refill with actual coolant. It should be a 50/50 mix in most places

mustangman02232

drain just the rad and fill it back up with distilled water. repete till only water comes up, drain out as much of the system as you can. next mix up the antifreeze and distilled water and add a little bit of magnesium to the mix. dont use tap water. and dont use that dex cool extened life sh*t either.