Radiator Drain Plug

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Brok it on our 02 vilager awhile ago and just left it. I figured out I can get the bolt part off with an allen key, but the plug doesnt screw out and fall out, its kinda in there. Do I just pull it out and get a new one at the dealer or should I get a metal one at the autoparts store? Thanks. I dont want to break anything further.
 
ive never even touched a radiator drain plug for this exact reason. just remove the lower hose
 
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no its fine as long as you can use the allen head

the drain part you move, kind of sticks into the radiator and is barbed on the end.... so it just doesn't fall out, but you can easily remove it without breaking it, just tug on it a little harder


also make sure the o-ring on it is very round, some get old with useage and get flat, then they like to leak after you mess with them..... Removing the lower hose is always my last resort! its just messy

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Alright thanks a lot that picture really helped. But online at rockauto and advance the dorman ones are metal with a flappy propeller looking thing at the end. How do these go in because in the picture there is no plastic locking end like in this one?
 
I think its leaking from it so I kinda have touch it =(. I just don't know what t replace it with. On rockauto there are like 7 different petcocks dorman offers when I select my car and there different part numbers and say 1/8" 1/4" etc so i don't see how they could possibly all fit.
 
Give it a tug straight back/out with a pliers. It's just that o-ring friction holding it in there; they get sticky. When they're properly lubed you can pull them out with your fingers but of course not when they're all crustified.
 
Alright I'll give it a good yank. Couldnt I just get a bolt with the same thread and screw it on with an external gasket?
 
Like the bolt isn't exactly black like that in the picture posted its white with an orange hex. But if I just need to pull hard and the barbs will give I should be good.
 
The o-ring is the seal. The threads are just there to hold the plug in, I would not count on a bolt sealing.

Furthermore there might be a "drain hole" between the threads and o-ring, making that long petcock doohickey necessary. Of the many replacements most will work as long as you have the old one in your hand to compare. (catch 22).
 
Alright but in the picture of the replacemnt there are no barbs which is confusing me as to how it will stay in. Does it screw in?
 
I think the barbs are just there so when it comes out water pressure doesn't make it fly away.

My radiator has a little nipple in the drain that theoretically I could put some 3/8" hose on and direct my antifreeze into a container. That nipple is between the o-ring and threads IIRC. So you can probably unscrew yours several turns then get "stuck" with the o-ring jamming stuff, and it still not leaking all that much.
 
Originally Posted By: rangerfan24
I think its leaking from it so I kinda have touch it =(. I just don't know what t replace it with. On rockauto there are like 7 different petcocks dorman offers when I select my car and there different part numbers and say 1/8" 1/4" etc so i don't see how they could possibly all fit.
The radiator suppliers use many different types of plugs, even on the same model car so usually going by application does not work.

We keep a box of used ones for this purpose.
 
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