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| Radiator Drain Plug (Page 2/2) |
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Pegasus88GT
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NOV 02, 07:33 PM
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Well I found the culprit. The leak was indeed coming from the drain plug. Funny how things break a few weeks after the radiator's 2 year warranty. The drain plug is two pieces and the clip that the plug screws into was cracked causing the plug to be unable to thread in and tighten. Unfortunately, the clip is a very odd plus (+) shape and none of the parts stores had anything that would work. On the bright side I was able to contact the radiator manufacturer, Spectra Premium, and they are sending a replacement drain plug to my house for free. If all goes well I'll head back home next weekend and install the new plug and put the radiator back in. Gotta love plastic parts!!!
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fierosound
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JUL 16, 12:49 AM
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cle_fiero
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FEB 14, 04:00 PM
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Did y'all ever figure out the part number or a reputable source for the drain silcock? Mines definitely cracked, luckily isn't leaking right now but if it starts that will be a bad day.
 [This message has been edited by cle_fiero (edited 02-14-2021).]
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reinhart
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FEB 15, 11:32 PM
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That's one thing that scares me to remove. Never have touched one. It's just safer and easier to remove the lower radiator hose. Same result.
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theogre
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FEB 15, 11:58 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by reinhart:
That's one thing that scares me to remove. Never have touched one. It's just safer and easier to remove the lower radiator hose. Same result. |
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Is what I do too, "when needed" and Not just GM/Fiero rad's.
For Fiero,
When you drain right tube under the car, drains most of Radiator and much of block too.
When flushing and filling as said in cave Coolant Fill... water left in block and rad won't matter.------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)
The Ogre's Fiero Cave
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cle_fiero
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FEB 16, 12:50 AM
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Agreed, ogre and reinhart. I've never touched the knob, but while working on my front end I noticed that the plugs handle was bent and broken. Touching the thing revealed the plastic was cheese - apparently from glycol penetration into cracks in the injection molded silcock ends.
Luckily, I was able to fish out the 'bits' of goopy plastic, flush the radiator a bit to remove any lost solids, and replace with Dorman 61109 - dimensions were identical to the old plug, and installed fine!
Link to the one I bought:
https://www.autozone.com/co...-plug-61109/1049_0_0[This message has been edited by cle_fiero (edited 02-16-2021).]
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theogre
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FEB 16, 05:13 PM
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Good coolant mix won't cause most problems.
But...
Weak or No coolant Will.
Examples:
Even people using 50/50 mix after flushing cause problems because water trap in the block etc causes weak coolant.
EG and PG in coolant isn't only thing in them and doesn't wear out, spoil, or whatever myth but anti rust and other chemicals do Wear Out.
Weak coolant to Plain Water will attack many parts not just cause "rust" for Iron and Aluminum.
If the drain "plug" parts are bad... WP Seal may have problems too.
Coolant is lube to WP seal. Likely has things to protect plastic... If coolant doesn't have a "plasticizer" then likely still tries to stop soft parts like WP seal leaching out the "plasticizer" they have.
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reinhart
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FEB 17, 02:14 AM
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I've never seen one before but it looks like it'd be impossible to damage the outlet tank by overtightening it. The threads are not part of the tank but part of the drain plug. That makes me less hesitant to remove the plug if I needed to. I don't believe the outlet tanks are sold separately anymore so if the tank were damaged from even something silly light a drain plug the whole radiator would have to be replaced so good thing it doesn't seem to be an issue.
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