Coolant Drain

I went to change the antifreeze on my 2001 Taurus. (3.0L Vulcan). The Haynes Manual stated that the drain plug was on the bottom left of the Radiator. However, when I went to find it. If it is there it is so buried you don't get there easily.

Anybocy got any good advise on what the best way is to get to the drain plug? Or a good link to some explicit instructions on the subject?

Thanks,
Russell

You'll probably need to be on the ground to reach up into it.

If that would work it would be changed. It appears that there is a black plastic reflective shield which has to be removed. I want to 1) be sure that I am going to the right place before I start disassembly and 2) that there is not an easier way I don't know about.

Thank you,
Russell

If it is any easier, just remove the lower rad hose from the rad and drain the antifreeze that way. It's a little messy but I have used this method many times when the drain plug or tap is either seized up or hard to access.

Zoey, That is an interesting idea. I will have to look at it and see. That sounds better than pulling all the housing between the road and the radiator.

Anybody else have some ideas.

Thanks,
Russell

I think I have found the answer. At the bottom right of the radiator (not that you can see the radiator mind you) is a short connection to the block of the motor. Off of this is a connection to a heater hose. By loosening the shielding you can disconnect the heater hose. Then reconnect it when it is finnished draining. Not quite as simple as the cock drain on other vehicles. But it will beat having to disassemble the entire front end of the this 01 Taurus.

Russell

If it is any easier, just remove the lower rad hose from the rad and drain the antifreeze that way. It's a little messy but I have used this method many times when the drain plug or tap is either seized up or hard to access.

Yea, that is just about what I found. thanks, Russell

gees I just drained out the radiator in my 96 and it is on the lower drivers side of the radiator. It is a small plastic petcock had to be almost unscrewed all the way before it started to drain tho. Funny part after it was all drained out and I pulled the front head the block still laid full of antifreeze

Kribbie, According to Haynes there are two plugs in the block to drain it as well. The problem I have found is that the drain plug is so hidden on the 01 that it appears to be easier to disconnect the heater hose. If it does not rain on Saturday I guess that is my time to do the job.

The solution to this may be to add a Prestone drain tee to the lower heater hose. Finding the drain cock on the radiator is a bit much. So by adding that I suspect that the coolant flush will be as simple as it should be.

I went to change the antifreeze on my 2001 Taurus. (3.0L Vulcan). The Haynes Manual stated that the drain plug was on the bottom left of the Radiator. However, when I went to find it. If it is there it is so buried you don't get there easily.

Anybocy got any good advise on what the best way is to get to the drain plug? Or a good link to some explicit instructions on the subject?

Thanks,
Russell


I ran into a similar problem on my 92 Taurus. Where the hell is the block drain that the haynes manual refers to. For now I just changed the antifreeze in the radiator.

I finally took it into the shop. They hooked up their high dollar machine to the top radiator hose. $63.94 later I have fresh antifreeze. What a pain for a simple job.