Jazsun

I need to drain all the coolant for head swamp, I rounded the drain plug. If I pull the two top water pump bolts will that allow most of the coolant to drain? OR should I just wait until I pull a head bolt and let it all blead out?

Dave1980

Get it out and get a replacement at autozone. They come in the help section. Why work around something that your going to have to deal with sooner or later?

Maybe you can create a slot to use a large flat screw driver since the plastic wing parts are broken off?

blk95

remove the lower radiator hose and let it drain

formulalt4383

I did that to a radiator before myself. Locking pliers eventually got the plug out.

shoebox

I am thinking he means the block drain plug??? Try one of those new bolt extractor sockets that will grip just about anything.

Jazsun

I already wasted like 2 hours trying to get it out, its a lost cause. I really dont have time to mess with it anymore, is there any other way to get the coolant out so it doesnt poor all over the engine when I pull the heads?

Jazsun

Bingo, I'm talking the block drain plug.

Procharged94Lt1

A trick that I have used many times is grab an empty wet/dry shop vac and get a reducer piece that fits on top of the water pump. Take some electricians tape and wrap it around the tip of it so that you can press it into the housing and make a good seal. Turn on the shop vac and let it do the work. After it has run for a while you can open up the radiator cap to make sure that there isn't a vacuum lock.

Works great since you aren't under the car trying to take the hose off and end up splashing coolant everywhere, or taking out a water pump bolt and having the coolant splash everywhere. It obviously doesn't get every ounce of it out, but it will do plenty enough so you can pull the heads without having to worry about it getting into the cylinders.

Jazsun

The only problem is I dont have a shop vac and my only form of transport is down. I dont care about the mess since Its outside anyways, would pulling a couple top bolts on the waterpump drain all the coolant in both heads?

bobdec

I know the left lower (driver side) WP bolt will drain the block lower than the heads, but I'm not sure it it gets the right side drained. If you're going to pull the heads you could pull the water pump. It's only a couple of caskets and 5 more bolts. Other choice is the knock sensor will drain the right side.

SnakeOiler

^^^ pull that water pump bolt. take out the temp sensor in the driver side head and the corresponding bolt in the pass. side head. You could also try and remove the rear bolts holding the steam pipe. May not get it all out, but it'll be the best you can do without removing the block drain.

ShownomercyZ28

And yes, if you loosen the heads without draining the block past them, you will make a mess of everything. I still am trying to clean up that mistake.

caldercay

Ditto on that - it's your only correct solution.

Jazsun

By mess do you mean coolant on the cylinders or just all over the place? I could care less if it spells all over the place around my car.

ShownomercyZ28

In the cylinders, on the floor, on you, just everywhere.