06 Corolla coolant drain question

[hate2work]

OK, I hope this doesn't sound too dumb, so here goes...

I can see the white plastic petcock at the bottom of the driver's side of the radiator. And obviously you open that to drain the coolant.

Here's my question(s)...does it just dribble down and you catch it as best you can? Or is there a nipple of some kind to put a hose on? How do you control the flow of the draining coolant?

TIA for any answers

 

[mrichards]

It will flow out pretty good sometimes you can put a hose on it with a hose clamp if there is a nipple on it some do, some don't, get a big pan and put it down, watch to make sure it dosen't hit something else first and become diverted from the pan. Make sure you have some floor dry in case you spill any. Sometimes you can put a piece of cardboard to make a track for it to go down, just depends on the situation.

 

[Steve S]

Have you noticed if there is a block drain?

 

[dsmith41]

I have heard several people recommend just pulling the lower radiator hose and draining that way. If you break that petcock, you are screwed.

 

[DanielinTheLions]

On mine I always just open the petcock and let it drain into a large pan. Same with the drain for the block too.

 

[pbm]

If you don't take the radiator cap off it will dribble. Once you remove the cap it will gush out.

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Have you noticed if there is a block drain?


I think there is a block drain, but I don't want to fool with it, I just want to drain out a gallon of the Toyota Pink and put a gallon back in.

There's definitely stuff in the way below the petcock and coolant will go all over if it just gushes out the petcock, I was hoping to avoid that mess if possible. I know that Bill just changed his coolant last fall, maybe he or someone else will see this and respond.

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: dsmith41
I have heard several people recommend just pulling the lower radiator hose and draining that way. If you break that petcock, you are screwed.


OK, thanks, I'll take it easy with that plastic piece

 

[Bill in Utah]

When I did mine it was easy, I just took some cardboard lined with foil and directed towards a pan.

I don't think you will get out a gallon from it. But I'm not a fan of using block drains (esp the threaded ones in aluminum) as I've seen them cross threaded or break off.

I just flushed it many times with distilled water till it came out clear, then added 50% of straight Peak Global lifetime and added straight coolant into the overflow.

Working fine! Take care, Bill

 

[znode]

5/16" internal diameter hose from home depot works perfectly for my Camry. Makes a good seal, then just drain into a short, squat container.

 

[cjcride]

Remove the black plastic splash shield 10mm bolt heads.