Help,where is the coolant drain plug in the 3S-FE engine block

[jimmywei]

Hi, I want to DIY coolant flush for my 89 Camry, but I'm not sure which one is the coolant drain plug in the engine block. From the service manual, it located front-right-top corner of the 3S-FE engine, but I can't find it. I take some pictures for my engine. Had anyone done this before, could you please help me out?

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/bc/53a57585...hf86DBN8N5aBOp
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/bc/53a57585...hf86DBGPMgXAFH
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/bc/53a57585...hf86DBVJyfZslk

I guest the bolt on the bottom-right corner fastening two pipe to the engine block is the one. Any advice will be really appreicated.

[augie7071]

Hi, On my 89 camry v-6 i found it in back side of engine assesible from underneth. But removeing the bottom radiator hose & thermostae should suffice.

[augie7071]

Hi jimmiwei, I noticed from your photos that the sheild around the distributer cap is gone. has this caused you any problems? i wanted to remove mine because of changing the cap issues. its almost impossible to get at the bottem fastener. I had to make a special tool to do it, but still coundn't see it. Had to do it by feel!!!

[Daniel M. Dreifus]

[quote=jimmywei]Hi, I want to DIY coolant flush for my 89 Camry, but I'm not sure which one is the coolant drain plug in the engine block. From the service manual, it located front-right-top corner of the 3S-FE engine, but I can't find it. I take some pictures for my engine. Had anyone done this before, could you please help me out?
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I know that Toyota recommends removing that drain plug, but I won't be doing it again.
The coolant drain plug for the engine block (4 cylinder) is on the back side toward the firewall and not the easiest to remove.
One day I lifted the car, set it on jack stands, front and rear, and decided to remove that plug after draining the radiator. Only a few more drops came out. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but I'm sure that was the right plug.
IIRC I had to use a universal joint with the socket to get access. Just wasn't worth the extra effort. Would recommend just draining the radiator more often versus opening that plug. There's a "jiggle valve" in the thermostat, so my understanding is that it lets a small amount of fluid pass to avoid air pockets. Maybe that's why all the fluid had already drained out. It did take quite a long time for the coolant to stop dripping from the radiator drain. BTW, I also discovered, you can reach this from above. To my view, it is important to use only distilled water and the Toyota brand red coolant to preseve maximum efficiency in the cooling system.

[ice745]

I think I read this somewhere, but I'm not 100% sure; but I think that drain plug is supposed to be taken off with the car jacked only in the front, so it makes a slope.

But what you can do to get most of it out without taking the engine drain off, after you drain it all, fill it with water, and run the engine for a bit, so it all cylces through, then drain the water (after it cools); now any residual antefreeze will be severely diluted and won't have a significant effect on the new coolant unless there actually is a significant amount left behind the engine drain plug (Daniel says that its just a few drops, I personally don't know, I've never opened that drain).

It is a good idea to have your heat turned to the hottest setting when you drain, and if you put water or a flushing formula in again before you fill it with antefreeze, this opens up all the heat related parts that rely on the antefreeze.

I was also wondering, if you do fill it with the Toyota Red coolant, can that be mixed safely with green coolant. Like say I drain and fill with Toyota Red, then buy green Prestone 50/50 for in case I ever need to fill on the road, is that a bad idea?

[jimmywei]

Thank your guys so much. It seemed to me that the coolant drain plug in the engine block is difficult to access. I think I can remove the thermostat to drain the coolant from the engine instead.

augie7071, I never see the shield around the distributer cap, maybe the previous owner remove it, or it only happens for your V6 engine because I had check Haynes and Cliton repair manual but can't find anything about removing the shield.

ice745, I don't think we can only use Toyota brand coolant, unless you live in a very cold area and need the maximum efficiency in the cooling system. In generaly, you don't need to fill the coolant on the road, it works at least one year unless you have a leak in your cooling system.

[ice745]

Thanks , I'm glad you figured out what you're gonna do too.

I was also wondering if there is a time interval you should change thermostats, or if its just as needed?

[Daniel M. Dreifus]

Originally Posted by ice745

I think I read this somewhere, but I'm not 100% sure; but I think that drain plug is supposed to be taken off with the car jacked only in the front, so it makes a slope.

But what you can do to get most of it out without taking the engine drain off, after you drain it all, fill it with water, and run the engine for a bit, so it all cylces through, then drain the water (after it cools); now any residual antefreeze will be severely diluted and won't have a significant effect on the new coolant unless there actually is a significant amount left behind the engine drain plug (Daniel says that its just a few drops, I personally don't know, I've never opened that drain).

It is a good idea to have your heat turned to the hottest setting when you drain, and if you put water or a flushing formula in again before you fill it with antefreeze, this opens up all the heat related parts that rely on the antefreeze.

I was also wondering, if you do fill it with the Toyota Red coolant, can that be mixed safely with green coolant. Like say I drain and fill with Toyota Red, then buy green Prestone 50/50 for in case I ever need to fill on the road, is that a bad idea?

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I agree the heat should be set on maximum heat prior to draining coolant so the heater valve is open.
I do not agree that it is a good idea to put plain water into the cooling system or mix red and green or that it makes any difference how the car is lifted.
The cooling system is very important to preserving the proper operation of the engine -- best idea is to keep it clean, free of scale or any contaminants, and use the recommended coolant with distilled water in the correct proportions only. That way you know the right concentration is in the engine.
Just open the radiator drain, let it all dribble out, then refill slowly and recheck the level again the next day.
Thermostat and radiator cap are relatively inexpensive maintenance items. I replace them when I change the timing belt.