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| Cooling System Draining (Page 1/1) |
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Penfiero3.4
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APR 27, 02:22 PM
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Drained cooling system by opening drains in the 2 ss metal coolant tubes under car (no problem; torx #30). Also opened rad drain; (not necessary and cannot catch the antifreeze). Total volume in bucket was 7 litres (6.2 Quarts), plus a little spillage, VS the 14 quarts capacity specified. Where is the block drain ? I installed the motor and do not recall any drain.
I replaced leaking water pump and refilled system with plain water to test. Water remained at thermostat level overnight. I want to make sure all the water is out before I fill with antifreeze.
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fierosound
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APR 27, 03:18 PM
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edfiero
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APR 28, 12:49 PM
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I've used compressed air in the thermostat opening to force coolant out of the heads and block in my Duke when I've needed to drain the system.
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Penfiero3.4
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APR 28, 06:08 PM
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I got another litre out with compressed air. Per Ogre I will use straight antifreeze and test for concentration. Picture of underbody pipe drain port attached. 
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theogre
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APR 28, 08:52 PM
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ENGINE Drain(s) are usually plugs low on block. Most I've seen are square drive that remove w/ ⅜" socket handle or short extension. Many are hard to find or access because many have other things over them.
Most people don't bother w/ then because can leak, break, etc.
Big reason is Engine should drain part way w/o bother finding those drains if there.
Engine and head(s) water should "Back flow" out of WP and drain to that level. WP doesn't have a check valve etc to stop this.
Do Not jack the car or parked noise down while draining. That keep coolant in lower pipes.
I drain P-side pipe w/ only T-cap off first. When flows stops remove R-cap. Then drain other side. That should get most w/o a mess.
Then drain rad... If can find rubber/plastic tube fits short R-drain might help directing flow but most times that will make a mess.
Could loosen clamps etc to mess w/ Heater loop to drain that part but big pain that may have problems.
If done that way, might suck coolant out of the overflow too. Regardless... Don't counting liters/quarts of drainage and think is an accurate value.
You need to 2 gal pure coolant in the system. You might get a system a little Coolant "rich" but better then have weak coolant trying to guess exact mix. (50% to 70% Coolant is ok for most brands.)
If you can't get 2 in now, Completely empty the overflow tank and put the rest in there. System Should purge left over air and hot coolant and suck coolant back when system is cool/cold again. This can take several to many heat cycles to mix the system so testing a tank or T-stat can give bogus results until both see same number. Good thing you have Months before cold weather to worry about.
Most OE pipe drains are "Allen" holes. Exact size I forget right now. "rust," undercoating, dirt, etc. can change size. You might get lucky w/ T30 etc but can strip the hole and make worse problems. Or maybe someone replace the original plugs.
I use Teflon paint pipe sealer on pipe plugs in plumbing section of whatever store handy and don't force tighten. Any Sealers act as lube and easy to over torque them. More so w/ small size parts.
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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[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 04-28-2020).]
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Penfiero3.4
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APR 29, 07:21 AM
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The answer to my original question is the FIERO COOLING SYSTEM CANNOT BE TOTALLY DRAINED. About 40% (6 litres) will remain.
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cebix
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APR 29, 04:01 PM
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My experience is that you also have a lot of coolant in the heater core lines that won't drain normally. I also thought it was 13 liters for the whole system? I think about 2 liters go to the overflow tank by itself to the FULL mark. [This message has been edited by cebix (edited 04-29-2020).]
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Lou6t4gto
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APR 29, 07:33 PM
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Question: you Already drained the system and installed a water pump.the plugs in the SS pipes are the lower drain point, and you already pulled them. ***what you will re-install will be a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and WATER.** Why is it so important to get ALL the Water OUT when you will be putting more Water back in on the re-fill ?? [This message has been edited by Lou6t4gto (edited 04-29-2020).]
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theogre
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APR 29, 08:32 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Penfiero3.4:
The answer to my original question is the FIERO COOLING SYSTEM CANNOT BE TOTALLY DRAINED. About 40% (6 litres) will remain. |
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Maybe in you case, not in others and more so w/ other engine like the l4. I been doing this job for decades and easily get most to all of 2 gallon in the system, more so on l4 Fiero. Dump any leftover pure coolant in the overflow tank.
If you have a lot of left over... Just don't stuff the tank all at once. Air and maybe Hot Water/Coolant can push to overflow the tank and dump coolant on the floor/ground.
The radiator and likely other places Will have air in them no matter how you fill or even use whatever "burping" method until the system has seen enough heat cycled to drive out that air. That will mess up your counted liters/quarts for draining after your test.
If the Rad Cap, Overflow tube, or other parts are "bad" can leak Air in or out of the radiator w/o leaking coolant and never get system to purge and have more problems.
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Penfiero3.4
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MAY 02, 12:11 PM
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