Newer Mustang rad won't drain

[ShifterStang]

I decided to drain the coolant from the rad last weekend on my 05 Mustang GT. It's supposed to be good for 5 years, but I don't trust it to go that long and the car is 3 1/2 years old now.

I figured I would get out about 2/3 of of the 4.6's total capacity of 12.9 litres (12.5 quarts), with the rest remaining in the block, so I bought 2 4-litre jugs of the proper Motorcraft Premium Gold stuff at the dealer and went at it (I was changing the oil and filter, too).

Well, I couldn't get more than 3 1/4 litres to drain out of the rad (about 3 quarts). That was it! About a quarter of the total capacity. All I could do was top it up with 3 1/4 litres of fresh coolant (60% antifreeze, 40% distilled water).

What's that about? Surely ("don't call me Shirley") the rad holds more than that. I did remove the cap on the overflow container right up top, so any theories?

Craig

2005 GT Convertible. Delivered June 3, 2005. 5-speed manual transmission. Mineral Grey. Bullitts with Pony centre caps. Black top. Medium Parchment leather interior with Interior Upgrade Package, side airbags. 6-disc CD. Active anti-theft. Ford Racing strut tower brace. Ford exhaust tips, custom car cover and trunk liner. Ninosport door sill letters. Shortened antenna, radiator extension panels from Mid-West Auto (bought from Mustangs Unlimited), Class 2 hitch.

 

[Steve S]

That is all that will drain out that way.

 

[mcrn]

Did you try to disconnect the upper or lower hose?

 

[Barkleymut]

I have an 07 (see sig) and have thought about draining the radiator, did it also drain the expansion tank? It looks like it would be easy to pull the hose at the bottom of the tank and refill. Done once a week over the course of a couple months you would have done a pretty good flush.

 

[ShifterStang]

Didn't disconnect either rad hose. What would that do, if I may ask?

And yes, it drained the overflow tank.

 

[JimR]

Draining the radiator from the expansion tank is an interesting concept. But, if the expansion tank is only filled to the "Cold fill" line, there really isn't much fluid in there. Wouldn't it take forever to turn over new fluid this way, or am I missing something?

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[artificialist]

This nonsense is why dealerships and repair shops have a coolant flushing machine. It uses the engine's water pump to draw in the new coolant, and then flush the old coolant out into a collection bucket.

It works well even in cars that have normal cooling systems.

 

[Barkleymut]

In my Explorer it takes about 10 seconds to pull the lower hose from the expansion tank and it allows about 1/2 a quart to come out. By draining and refilling with 50/50 mix every other weekend I'm sure I did a full flush on it this summer. Much easier than any other method and probably only spent an extra 10-20 bucks on coolant.

 

[Barkleymut]

That being said it looks like the Mustang would be much harder do disconnect the lower hose, and it would drain all over the fan, etc.

 

[ShifterStang]

JimR: I didn't drain the rad from the expansion tank, I drained it from the bottom of the rad, via the little tap that is there for this purpose. It's at the lowest point of the rad, so I should have drained all the coolant in the rad, including the overflow tank at the top.

 

[The Critic]

Are there drain plugs on the engine block?

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Are there drain plugs on the engine block?


yes, look where the oil dipstick tube goes into the block, almost level with the side bolts for the main caps. it will be a hex plug. there will be another one on the other side of the block.

 

[The_Jeff]

Were you on ramps? That angle won't help.

Does the new 'stang thermostat have an air burp hole or jiggle pin? If so, you should be able to get more out, but very very slowly.

 

[ShifterStang]

Car was on ramps, but my driveway slopes, so car was level.

What do you think if I try it again in the spring, because the car is stored for the winter now, but this time warm up the engine completely so that the thermostat opens? Would that drain out more?

I need ideas on this, please. Something's not right here. But I'd rather not deal with block drain plugs.

Craig

 

[JustinH]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it.

Do what you are doing once a season and you won't have a problem with it.

Every two years I dump the coolant out of the radiator in my ecotec cars, and it looks great...