where is the radiator coolant drain plug located on my '99?

[psanche]

Is it that white plastic plug w/ a hex socket by the driverside under the battery? Thanks for your input.

[catvents]

Yes it is.

[12Ounce]

On my '99, the plug was regular looking ... made to be twisted by hand. But the thing was hard to locate, and made quite a mess when used ... I could never get a hose to hook up to the spigot to do any good. Great design!

[kvcobra]

So.... What is the procedure to bleed the air out after coolent change on a 99'. Like my other car there is a valv where I can unsrew and tighten it up after the engine is warmed up and air pushed out. Thanks.

[lewisnc100]

Steps for Filling - Bleeding

1 - During the initial fill, fill the degas bottle to the top of the cold fill range.
2 - Move the temperature blend selector to the full warm position and the fan motor control to MAX for the front and rear unit, if equipped.
3 - Start the vehicle with the degas bottle cap off and allow to idle until the thermostat is open.
4 - Top off the coolant in the degas bottle to the top of the cold fill range, install and tighten the degas bottle cap.
5 - Increase the engine rpms to 3000 for 15 seconds, and then return to idle for one minute.
6 - Repeat the previous step four times or until heat is coming from the rear unit while the vehicle is idling.
7 - Allow the vehicle to cool and top off the coolant in the degas bottle to the cold fill range.

[achingbones]

I can't find a drain cock on my 2000 Windstar. I drained by removing the hose connecting to radiator bottom. But I am getting only about 8 quarts in or out when changing fluid. Manual says 15 quart capacity. I don't understand how to completely flush as I am draining from the lower most place.

[lewisnc100]

That's normal unless you can drain the coolant using the engine drain plugs as well, but those things are tough to find and harder to use. The drain cock for the radiator is easy to miss because it doesn't point down. You need to look at the driver's side of the radiator, then look up and behind the radiator. Mine is white plastic.

If the coolant didn't look too bad I would just keep doing scheduled drain and fills.

[achingbones]

Originally Posted by lewisnc100

That's normal unless you can drain the coolant using the engine drain plugs as well, but those things are tough to find and harder to use. The drain cock for the radiator is easy to miss because it doesn't point down. You need to look at the driver's side of the radiator, then look up and behind the radiator. Mine is white plastic.

If the coolant didn't look too bad I would just keep doing scheduled drain and fills.

Thanks, drain cock is white plastic and where you said it was. I had assumed that the entire engine would drain. I had flushed the cooling system with several cycles of water so, it would be a mistake to refill with with 50:50 mixture if only 7 or 8 quarts go back in. The remaining 7 to 8 quarts of clear water after flushing left in the block would dilute the 50:50 mixture down to a 25% mixture. Not good. I refilled with about 8 quarts of 100 percent and allowed to circulate to get to 50:50 mixture.

[DRW1000]

Yeah that is the problem when flushing. One needs to know the exact capacity to allow one to get the 50/50 mixture by adding pure coolant. Of course anywhere from 50/50 to 60/40 should be okay.