Malibu LX9 3.5L Coolant change

[la1]

I have a 2006 Malibu 3.5L , Going to change the coolant. Looks like there is a plug on front and back of the block. I assume there is a coolant hose lower than both of the drain plugs. Can I remove the coolant hose to drain the block or do I have to remove both drain plugs from the block.

[slls]

Remove both plugs, open radiator drain, should be on passenger side. If no drain valve for radiator use lower hose.
When filling remove coolant temp sensor to purge air from block, when coolant comes out install.

[Ed_Strong]

I am planning on doing this in a few months to my 2005 Malibu 3.5L LS and would like to know if there are any pictures, videos or tutorial out there that would show the location of this plugs on the front and back of the block and coolant temp sensor location aswell!

[la1]

thanks for the replies, this is what I ended up doing. There is no radiator cap on the 2006 3.5L. You use the overfill tank for the filling.

1. removed the overfill tank cap, when coolant was cool.
2. on my malibu the drain was on the driver side. had to remove 2 bolts, then remove the bottom bracket that holds the rad, has a rubber dampner.
3. unscrewed the drain plug in the rad, CCW, removed completley.
4. drained the coolant into a pan that will hold at least 2.5 gallons, The rad holds about 1.5 - 2.5 gallons.
5. removed the front engine block drain plug.
6. could not get to the back engine block plug.
7. measured the coolant recovered, aprox 2 gallons or 8 quarts...the total capacity is 9.9 quarts. I figured the rest was in the heater core and back engine block. If you are going to drain the heater core remove the hose clamp and take a big pair of channel locks and twist the heater core hose on the flange till the hose is lose and you can pull off the hose.
8. Put all the drain plugs back in. Install the rad bottom bracket.PRE MIX A 50/50 MIX of Dexcool and destilled water ( not mineral water or spring water) aprox .89 a gallon.
9. start pouring in the overflow tank.
10. after about 3/4 of a gallon, ( on my malibu) , right by the waterpump there is a bleed screw..it is brass and has 2 parts. The bottom part use a back up wrench, and unscrew the top. Continue pouring coolant till coolant flows out, then screw the top back in.
11. Idle till the cooling fan comes on DO NOT RASE THE ENGINE.
12. Top off the overflow tank to the weld seam.

-getting the bottom bracket back on and lined up was a little bit of a pain, to accelerate the alignment I used a rubber hammer to move it around.

[slls]

Nice write up, didn't know about the new radiator drain, how did you find it?