block drain plug

[dubbz]

just finished doing a lower intake manifold gasket on a 97 grand am gt 3100. I need to drain the cooling system but the chiltons manual doesn't show the location of the drain plug on the block. Any help would be appreciated.

[alegar001]

the drain plug is not on the block it is on the radiator. There is a coxon on the bottom of it. Be careful you don't break the coxon as it may be rusted. all else fails or you are woried about breaking the coxon take off the lower radiator hose.

Also when refealing it you have to bleed off air from the engine. There is a small bolt on tope of a 5 or 6 inch metal tube to do this just bleed tell coolant comes out. You may need to repaet tell all air is out of the system.


Peace :)

[MantaGreen97]

^On the 3100 and 3400 there are block drain plugs as well. The rad won't drain all the coolant from the car, more like 70-80%. Removing the block plugs will remove the remaining coolant. (Well you'll still have a small amount left in even then, but you ge more out than with just draining the radiator).

You don't have to remove the block plugs as they aren't the easiest things to get to. You can just flush most of the remaining coolant out when you do the flush before re-fill. Plus, if it's just the LIM you're worried about I don't think (I'm not sure) that you need to remove those plugs to get the level low enough for the LIM gasket replacement anyway...

[dubbz]

Many thanks guys. I srained the radiator and thought that might be enough but wasn't sure.