coolant change procedure

[JStin]

Any body care to give the right way to change/flush coolant in a '00 Grand with rear heater? My service manual says to remove the cylinder block drain plugs. Is that really necessary?

Thanks.

[Bear]

On my '96 3.3 liter I just remove radiator and coolant recovery bottle caps and then I remove the lower radiator hose from the engine (there was a problem with the radiator drain plug destroying the rubber "O" ring and it was a dealer replacement item). probably will require the splash shield under the car top be removed, but it does not take long. I have never pulled the engine block plug and I change the coolant every 30,000 miles with no issues.

[JStin]

Thanks for your reply Bear. Does pulling the lower rad. hose drain the entire system? Would some low psi compressed air into thermostat (will be replacing therm.) housing be a good idea after flush with clean water to be sure that the system is empty? I'd be flushing with hose water & refilling with distilled/Dexcool right?

Thanks again,
jstin