Thread: Draining coolant for LIM job.

I'm at work and I've spent enough time searching and reading so I'm just going to post, hope this hasn't been clearly answered already!

I'm replacing the LIM gasket tonight and I've watched the video on it a handful of times so I think I'll be able to do it why my eyes closed by now... but the one thing that didn't get much detail was when he drained the coolant before pulling the intake manifold off. Where did he drain it from? It didn't look like he drained it from the radiator? Is there something I'm missing? And when he refilled he didn't cover the bleeding process much either.

So theres the questions... where do I need to drain the coolant from before pulling the intake manifold? And when I refill, what is the process?

The cooling system has always been my downfall!

thanks in advance.

Well...what you can do is NOT drain it. Then have a shop vac ready when you take the LIM off...and suck out as much coolant as you can that gets in the lifter valley...then...pour some extra oil in there to wash it down into the pan...then after you get everything bolted back up, change the oil. I've done tons of LIM gasket jobs and I've done it like that since day one. If you want to drain the coolant though...on the drivers side of the rad on the bottom, that's where the petcock is to drain all the coolant.

This sounds much much easier, i'll give it a shot! thanks!

Originally Posted by anicolay

This sounds much much easier, i'll give it a shot! thanks!

No, problem. Just be sure to RTV the joints on the LIM for the re-install and the coolant elbows too...just to make sure it doesn't leak...do it right the first time around...take it from me LOL

Brilliant, thanks for the tips guys.

If you do have Dexcrap in there...I do recommened ditching it for yellow or green stuff...might as well put a new T-Stat in there too while your there if you don't have one.

I just pull the front knock sensor out, and open up where the thermostat is to let air in, then just let her drain. thats if i wanna save most of the coolant.

To answer your question, the radiator drain petcock is on the very bottom of the driver's side of the radiator, facing the engine compartment. Kind of a pain to get at. Usually it has a square hole in the end of it to turn it with. I use a 1/4" drive ratchet with a short extension on it. Just stick the end of the extension into the drain plug and turn it counter clockwise. It will rotate out as you turn it and coolant will start flowing out of a hole in the bottom of the radiator. I said "usually a square hole" only because I have seen one with a wingnut type plug you could turn with your fingers, but I suspect it had a replacement radiator.

Anyway, just in case you ever do have to drain your coolant, now you know. I always drain the coolant for LIM gaskets. I have a drain pan designated only for coolant and as long as the coolant is in good condition, I just reuse it when the job is done.