How to drain the coolant?

[Pavel]

Hi, I would like change the coolant, because the previous owner didn´t make it. However I didn´t find the drain plugs under the radiator as well as under the engine block. They aren´t there in the place, as written in the Hayne´s manual. Have you any idea, from which engine side should I search? Pavel

 

[angel]

If your radiator is relatively new it won't have a drain plug. Drain it from the lower hose. Even if it has a plug, don't try to remove it as it may well have seized, the result would be sheared off plug neck.
The drain plug for the block is on the carburettor side of the block, below the manifolds and just above the rear end of the starter motor. At the side of the block, not the rear as Haynes describes (they had earlier blocks in mind).

 

[Pavel]

Thank you, I will check it tomorrow. However it´s quite rough, so easy to remove the lower hose and drain the water underfoot...

 

[John Doe]

I have a spare 1992 GTL that I had to drain, it has drain plug on the back of block but it's almost inaccessible so I opened the bleed hose and blew air in expansion bottle with my mouth and I managed to drain it that way.

 

[Pavel]

By mouth?

I have a spare 1992 GTL that I had to drain, it has drain plug on the back of block but it's almost inaccessible so I opened the bleed hose and blew air in expansion bottle with my mouth and I managed to drain it that way.

Hi John, you´re a real R4 enthusiast, if you drain the coolant by your mouth, it´s a little bit amazing, it isn´t? I will try it drain by lower radiator hose in the wash room. Pavel

 

[John Doe]

Well the engine is great and it would be a shame to waste it. It was getting dark and the temperature was going down (around 0 degrees of Celsius) so that was the quickest method to drain it. BTW it is not that hard to blow it out After I washed my hands and sat in a warm room I remembered that I could've used lower radiator hose, oh well there is always the next time

P.S. Oh yes, people are starting to find my obsession a little odd.