Coolant Drain Plug??

[nvanadm]

So I tried to change my coolant today but I couldn't find (or remove) the radiator drain plug. If I am laying on my back with my feet at the front of the van would the drain be on my left? I found what looked to be the drain plug but it wouldn't budge and I didn't want to force it. It didn't seem very strong.

Here is a picture of what I found. I'm laying on my back with my feet at the front of the van. The drain is on the bottom left of the radiator.

radiator drain 1.jpg (121.94 KiB) Viewed 3460 times

radiator drain 2.jpg (93.02 KiB) Viewed 3460 times

If I can't get the drain plug to loosen can I just drain the coolant from the block? Will more flow out of the block if I start the van with the block drain plug removed. Can I then just replace the same amount of what came out? Is replacing most of the coolant better than not replacing any at all?

[vstrom]

If I'm looking at your pictures correctly.. that should be the rad drain at the the bottom left of the rad.. right above the front differential. Do NOT put a wrench on it! It looks like you should be able to unscrew it but it is actually braised on there..sort of like a weak weld. The flat piece that comes out of it is the valve.. just turn it counter-clockwise and the rad will drain. It's only finger tight.

The block plug is at the back right side of the engine (all these directions are based on sitting in the van). If you un-plug that it will drain pretty much everything.. if you just use the rad plug you may not drain it all.

[nvanadm]

Thanks! I'm glad I didn't put too much force on it.
I will drain both the rad and the block.

Thanks again

[FalcoColumbarius]

This was my experience, perhaps it might help? ~ Step by step coolant flush?

[nvanadm]

This was my experience, perhaps it might help? ~ http://www.delica.ca/forum/step-by-step ... 1812.htm.l

Thanks Falco, the link there is broken, but I just searched for that title. I ended up completing this after vstorm's post. I did read that post when I was researching how to do it but it still doesn't clearly state anything about the drain on the radiator. vstrom's explanation was dead on. I had no idea I had to turn the flat piece on the drain and NOT the fitting itself. That was the only issue. Once that was mentioned, it was smooth sailing!

Thanks to the community like always. Another job well done.

[vstrom]

The only reason I knew what to do is because I DID put a wrench on it 2 years ago.. made a hell of a mess. But I learned how to take my rad out after that!

[FalcoColumbarius]

Sorry about that, nvanadam ~ the link worked in the preview but not in the actual post. I've fixed the link now. Thanks for drawing my attention to it... smiles. Glad you solved the problem.

Falco.