What is this for? What happens if it is not hooked up to anything?

--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

Hey Art, what did you coat your garage floor with?
--
Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (getting ever closer to road worthiness)

Rustoleum 2-part epoxy. Like with any other paint, the work and chance for success is in the prep.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

It looks good. How does it hold up to jack stands, etc.?


You're only middle age for one day. You just don't know what day that is.
--
Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (STILL not road worthy!)

Chris, after 15 years it is looking like new after a wash; one of the few things I've done right in this life. Floor jack doesn't bother it, but I slide jack stands around on squares of plywood with felt glued on one side.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

"You're only middle age for one day. I just don't know what day that was."

Thanks for your photos of your set up.

Your floor is attractive. Is there a functional benefit as well, e.g. anti-slip, or it is merely cosmetic?

I'm thinking about using your set up to flush my coolant. Can you walk me through your set up. Here are my specific questions.

What sort of connection did you make when you drilled a hole in the coolant reservoir cap?

What sort of hand pump set up are you using?
What sort of collection tube with a twist-top are you using?
Any other tips or traps when making this set up?

Thanks

The floor paint is functional but I think the chips sprinkled in are more cosmetic than anti-slip. Anything I spill wipes up clean and leaves no stain. Brake fluid needs to be wiped up quickly though.

The pressure cap is a spare with hole tapped for a hose fitting. The pressure tank got me in hot water with the Mrs. until I replaced her garden sprayer with a new one. They're only $15 or so. The hose fitting I made also fit the brake fluid reservoir, but since then I got a purpose-made pressure bleeder small enough to hold DOT-4 instead of just air. The garden sprayer has a gauge, so I can test for cooling system leaks, but in this flushing application I'm just using it to force the coolant out into the Rubbermaid juice box with some speed.



Trap: You'll probably have to remove the valve stem on your drain the first few times you flush it, because rust and debris will collect there and block it.



I only bother with the juice box when I want to re-install the coolant, otherwise I drain it into this feeder bowl. Be careful where you store ethylene glycol coolant.



We didn't always have that nice garage floor.

How you put all this together will depend on the depth of your junkbox. Tip: Don't extend the periphery of your junk collection to the XYL's garden equipment. :)

--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

"Sometimes I think the greatest talent of all is perseverance. But only sometimes." -Mitch Albom

Thanks!

Would gravity alone be adequate to drain the block of coolant (upon loosening the block drain plug), or do I really need to create a pressure set-up rig on the coolant overflow tank?

How long of 1/2" clear vinyl hose do you recommend to connect the container to the engine block drain plug?

I really hate draining the radiator from the lower hose because it always creates a mess. I wish those radiators had drain plugs like the rest of the radiators out there. Is it possible to drain all of the coolant from that engine block drain plug?

Finally, do you recommend any brand of radiator/coolant flushes for neglected cooling systems, such as my newly purchased Volvo has?

Thanks

I bought some $3'x4'x12" deep HD feeding trays at a farm auction 20+ years ago.

They fit crosswise under the motor to catch fluid from lower radiator hose, water pump, upper radiator hose, ... when doing that repair.

Lengthwise to the car on the passenger side it catches fluid from the lower radiator hose and the drain fitting - although I usually run a hose from the drain fitting into the tray to be sure.

Lengthwise to the car on the driver's side - crosswise under the cowl - it catches coolant from the heater core.

It also catches nuts I drop from eg. the radiator fan.
--
240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio

What a great idea! Would you post pics? Do they list the company's name anywhere?

"Would gravity alone be adequate to drain the block of coolant (upon loosening the block drain plug), or do I really need to create a pressure set-up rig on the coolant overflow tank?"

Try it both ways and see how you would answer your question. I always help it with pressure.

"How long of 1/2" clear vinyl hose do you recommend to connect the container to the engine block drain plug?"

About yay long. Gotta leave some of the fun to you.

"I really hate draining the radiator from the lower hose because it always creates a mess. I wish those radiators had drain plugs like the rest of the radiators out there. Is it possible to drain all of the coolant from that engine block drain plug?"

Yeah, I miss the old petcock at the bottom of the rad, but no, I have to pull the lower hose, and sometimes it makes a splash. That's why it is nice to have a floor that's easy to wipe up. I'll let others chime in on how they flush their cars, as this thread is about identifying the block drain.

"Finally, do you recommend any brand of radiator/coolant flushes for neglected cooling systems, such as my newly purchased Volvo has?"

Again, someone else can suggest what works for them. I just use my well water to flush and fill with ethylene glycol and distilled water. Things shaking out your way??


--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

It's all fun and games until your jeans don't fit.

Thanks.

Does anyone know the name and model number for that transparent container?

Next time I'm in a Walmart I'll check it out.

Bottom shelf but not Rubbermaid...
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

"Our A students become professors. Our B students go to law school. Our C students rule the world." - Henry Rosovsky

That is your coolant drain plug.

Matt