Hey real quick question, is it required to open both the left and the right block plugs to drain the block of coolant? The driver's side plug looks like I can get to it from above, but the right side, I'd have to take the skid-plates off and get at it from underneath. The car is parked on rather level ground though the car is leaning a little towards the drivers-side.

It is.
There is no passage linking the two sides so if you drain one, then it only drains that side.


Lawrenceville, GA

I have run across a neat drain valve that fits the YBlock and is a marine item.  Fits the radiator too.  All you need is a 9/16 wrench to open it.
Available through a marine supply store or on ebay.  All brass.  You can even put a 5/8 hose over the end to direct the flow.

                              




54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

With the lower radiator hose off, couldn't you pressurize through one of the heater hose connections and blow most of the antifreeze out?

I gotta pull an emergency drain of the antifreeze tomorrow in the cold because for some baffling reason her antifreeze is only registering two balls or -5/-5 range of protection. Pisses me off because I put new antifreeze in THIS year or last year. I've got a space-heater stuffed under her hood tonight just in case.

Check your chart on the anti-freeze jug and determine how much you need to add.  Then drain that much from any drain cock available, add the required amount of anti freeze (be sure you get full strength anti freeze, not the 50/50 mix that is also in the stores), and run the engine until the thermostat opens, and it will all mix.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Can I just drain the radiator and fill that with non-50/50 antifreeze, then run the engine to mix the stuff? Can non-50/50 and 50/50 be mixed?

For this issue, it doesn't matter where you drain it from.  Use the drain valve that is easiest to reach.

You can mix non 50/50 and 50/50.  The non 50/50 is antifreeze that has not yet been diluted with water.  50/50 is antifreeze that has been diluted and is 50% antifreeze and 50% water.

You save a lot of money by getting non 50/50 and mixing it with distilled water yourself as the 50/50 is not usually a whole lot cheaper and you're only getting half the amount of antifreeze.


Lawrenceville, GA

When you run the engine to mix the anti freeze, don't forget to turn the heater control on to also mix the heater core coolant.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Is most of the coolant in the radiator+hoses or in the block? Or is it about the same? Because I'll just drain where-ever the most is and then top it off with 50/50, then recirculate and mix it.