Hi:

Replaced my coolant today. The drainplug on the lower right of the block is quite a big piece; looks like it could have a sensor on it (it doesn't). Is that possible?

Car only took in 8 litres (4 blue/green and 4 deionized water). Book sez it takes 9.5L. Sound okay? I detached the lower hose and the drainplug, did the garden hose thing thru the reservoir. It warmed up and drove as before (no problems).


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__Stef -- 81 DL wagon B21A SU carb M46 314000km

If you used a 3/4 deep socket, you probably unscrewed the entire drain cock assembly from the block. All you need to do is use a 13mm open end on the hex that is a bit further away from the block than the big one one you put your socket on. This opens the internal valve and the coolant dribbles out. A piece of hose over the end avoids a mess and directs the coolant away from the exhaust pipes and into your container for proper disposal.

I have NEVER, on any car I can remember, been able to get all the coolant in there that they specify the system holds! And I've tried everything to drain heaters and hoses completely. After a few miles of driving, and cooled down a little, bleed off some coolant from the block drain, and test its anti-freeze properties. (You can take a cupful to a garage). Then you are assured about the freeze protection in the system. I suggest this method, cause lots of folks fill up the reservoir with pure water, or pure antifreeze, so there's no point in testing its contents, unless you have run the engine through about 5 dozen hot/cold cycles.
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Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

> This opens the internal valve and the coolant dribbles out.

You can get it going like a race horse again if you take the whole valve out and while flushing use a curette made of a short piece of steel wire.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Point taken, Art. If the cooling system has not been flushed regularly, your described technique is not only better, but maybe mandatory.

I flush and chemically clean every couple of years. If I unscrew the block drain valve a couple of turns and remove the reservoir cap, it runs out at a good clip.
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Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

Bob, I hope you didn't see my post as an attempt to contradict your advice- just offering an additional step that might cure the dribbles- if that's what one gets just opening the valve.

Here's that old pic of what we're speaking of. It shows the drain valve the way it will look in the real world to someone just discovering its whereabouts. The rest of them, of course, are on bright, shiny clean motors.

Hi. I just have to compliment you, and others on this list, for all your digital photos -- they really make this list even easier to learn about things.
I have GOT to get myself a digital camera!!!
Thanks, guys.

Thank you Ken.

Digital cameras are nice for those like me who forget how they took something apart. Good, too, because a photo can be previewed before the subject walks away. But a good number of those I've posted were done with an ancient 35mm manual - you can just scan the print, or as I did, have your prints done as cheaply as possible but with a CD or floppy from the processor.

Taking photos of car parts is easy though. Subjects stay where they are usually and never get fidgety.

the remaining 1.5 l is likely in the heater core- i just detached the hoses from the firewall and flushed (turn heat on and run engine for a few min first).

" looks like it could have a sensor on it (it doesn't). Is that possible? "
The "drain plug" is actually a valve also known as a drain cock. The barbed part is turned to open it. If there is no flow then it may be plugged. So no sensor involved.

Hold on to that B21A wagon.

What's the condition of your rad? Mine had "crumbling to the touch" lower fins about 4 years ago due to salt.
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

>The "drain plug" is actually a valve also known as a drain cock. The barbed >part is turned to open it. If there is no flow then it may be plugged. So no >sensor involved.

Okay, thanks. It unscrewed fine with a deep 3/4 socket so no problem...

>Hold on to that B21A wagon.
I've become a big fan. + Has the chrome roof rack :) Love the no computer thing.

>What's the condition of your rad? Mine had "crumbling to the touch" lower fins >about 4 years ago due to salt

Seemed good. It's a BC (Van Island) wagon, so it's going to see its first Ontario salt sledding season.
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__Stef -- 81 DL wagon B21A SU carb M46 315555km