Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

Hi, Got a 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport with the 4.0 six cylinder engine. It's
time to change the coolant but I want to know exactly what I'm getting into
first. Everything that I have read about this procedure says to remove the
coolant drain plug from the engine block. I have a factory service manual
that shows the location of this plug and says that it is on the left side of
the block under the exhaust manifold at the rear of the engine. It is very
difficult to see anything because of the intake, exhaust manifolds, and
exhaust pipes being in the way. I spent a great deal of effort above and
below the engine trying to locate this plug. I tried using mirrors and could
barely get my hand up in there to try to feel for it but I can't find it.
And even if I could, how do you get a wrench to it with out tearing half the
engine apart? It wouldn't be worth the trouble. Is it possible that they
didn't even install this drain plug in some of these engines? Is there
another way to drain the block? Removing the lower radiator hose doesn't
look like it would help because it's attached towards the top of the engine.
Could someone please straighten me out because I'm lost.
Thanks for any help,
Dennis B

Re: Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

If all you're gonna do is drain/refill, perhaps you might just drain via
removing the lower radiator hose. Then, fill with water (distilled water is
best), warm the engine to let it burp. Finally, drain it once again and
fill with fresh coolant. Be careful not to mix different kinds of coolant.
Sure, it won't give you the perfection you desire but it should be much
easier and just as effective. Having a pro shop flush it's still an option.
Drink

"Dennis" <dennis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:O7mdnaHTYvOw08rYnZ2dnUVZ_uSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Hi, Got a 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport with the 4.0 six cylinder engine.
> It's time to change the coolant but I want to know exactly what I'm
> getting into first. Everything that I have read about this procedure says
> to remove the coolant drain plug from the engine block. I have a factory
> service manual that shows the location of this plug and says that it is on
> the left side of the block under the exhaust manifold at the rear of the
> engine. It is very difficult to see anything because of the intake,
> exhaust manifolds, and exhaust pipes being in the way. I spent a great
> deal of effort above and below the engine trying to locate this plug. I
> tried using mirrors and could barely get my hand up in there to try to
> feel for it but I can't find it. And even if I could, how do you get a
> wrench to it with out tearing half the engine apart? It wouldn't be worth
> the trouble. Is it possible that they didn't even install this drain plug
> in some of these engines? Is there another way to drain the block?
> Removing the lower radiator hose doesn't look like it would help because
> it's attached towards the top of the engine. Could someone please
> straighten me out because I'm lost.
> Thanks for any help,
> Dennis B
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

If all you're gonna do is drain/refill, perhaps you might just drain via
removing the lower radiator hose. Then, fill with water (distilled water is
best), warm the engine to let it burp. Finally, drain it once again and
fill with fresh coolant. Be careful not to mix different kinds of coolant.
Sure, it won't give you the perfection you desire but it should be much
easier and just as effective. Having a pro shop flush it's still an option.
Drink

"Dennis" <dennis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:O7mdnaHTYvOw08rYnZ2dnUVZ_uSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Hi, Got a 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport with the 4.0 six cylinder engine.
> It's time to change the coolant but I want to know exactly what I'm
> getting into first. Everything that I have read about this procedure says
> to remove the coolant drain plug from the engine block. I have a factory
> service manual that shows the location of this plug and says that it is on
> the left side of the block under the exhaust manifold at the rear of the
> engine. It is very difficult to see anything because of the intake,
> exhaust manifolds, and exhaust pipes being in the way. I spent a great
> deal of effort above and below the engine trying to locate this plug. I
> tried using mirrors and could barely get my hand up in there to try to
> feel for it but I can't find it. And even if I could, how do you get a
> wrench to it with out tearing half the engine apart? It wouldn't be worth
> the trouble. Is it possible that they didn't even install this drain plug
> in some of these engines? Is there another way to drain the block?
> Removing the lower radiator hose doesn't look like it would help because
> it's attached towards the top of the engine. Could someone please
> straighten me out because I'm lost.
> Thanks for any help,
> Dennis B
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

If all you're gonna do is drain/refill, perhaps you might just drain via
removing the lower radiator hose. Then, fill with water (distilled water is
best), warm the engine to let it burp. Finally, drain it once again and
fill with fresh coolant. Be careful not to mix different kinds of coolant.
Sure, it won't give you the perfection you desire but it should be much
easier and just as effective. Having a pro shop flush it's still an option.
Drink

"Dennis" <dennis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:O7mdnaHTYvOw08rYnZ2dnUVZ_uSdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Hi, Got a 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport with the 4.0 six cylinder engine.
> It's time to change the coolant but I want to know exactly what I'm
> getting into first. Everything that I have read about this procedure says
> to remove the coolant drain plug from the engine block. I have a factory
> service manual that shows the location of this plug and says that it is on
> the left side of the block under the exhaust manifold at the rear of the
> engine. It is very difficult to see anything because of the intake,
> exhaust manifolds, and exhaust pipes being in the way. I spent a great
> deal of effort above and below the engine trying to locate this plug. I
> tried using mirrors and could barely get my hand up in there to try to
> feel for it but I can't find it. And even if I could, how do you get a
> wrench to it with out tearing half the engine apart? It wouldn't be worth
> the trouble. Is it possible that they didn't even install this drain plug
> in some of these engines? Is there another way to drain the block?
> Removing the lower radiator hose doesn't look like it would help because
> it's attached towards the top of the engine. Could someone please
> straighten me out because I'm lost.
> Thanks for any help,
> Dennis B
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

Dennis wrote:
> Hi, Got a 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport with the 4.0 six cylinder
> engine. It's time to change the coolant but I want to know exactly
> what I'm getting into first.

The radiator drain is located on the lower passenger side of
the radiator, toward the engine. It will either look like a bolt
on a bit of pipe or a flat knob with an extension underneath.

You put a hose on that bit of pipe and run it into a catch bucket
then open the valve. Remember to take the radiator cap off or
it will drain rather slowly. :)

This will get "most" of the coolant out of the system, but not all.
It's close enough without messing with draining the block.

--
DougW

Re: Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

Dennis wrote:
> Hi, Got a 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport with the 4.0 six cylinder
> engine. It's time to change the coolant but I want to know exactly
> what I'm getting into first.

The radiator drain is located on the lower passenger side of
the radiator, toward the engine. It will either look like a bolt
on a bit of pipe or a flat knob with an extension underneath.

You put a hose on that bit of pipe and run it into a catch bucket
then open the valve. Remember to take the radiator cap off or
it will drain rather slowly. :)

This will get "most" of the coolant out of the system, but not all.
It's close enough without messing with draining the block.

--
DougW

Re: Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

Dennis wrote:
> Hi, Got a 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport with the 4.0 six cylinder
> engine. It's time to change the coolant but I want to know exactly
> what I'm getting into first.

The radiator drain is located on the lower passenger side of
the radiator, toward the engine. It will either look like a bolt
on a bit of pipe or a flat knob with an extension underneath.

You put a hose on that bit of pipe and run it into a catch bucket
then open the valve. Remember to take the radiator cap off or
it will drain rather slowly. :)

This will get "most" of the coolant out of the system, but not all.
It's close enough without messing with draining the block.

--
DougW

Re: Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

Just go with the radiator drain-n-fill. If you drain/fill often enough,
you shouldn't have to resort to block draining, chemicals or flushing.
Use the right stuff: Zerex G-05 is the only thing spec'd for my '05 TJL,
and it's likely the same for yours. Forget about 'universal' or
'compatible' coolants: use the right stuff. And always use distilled
water for the mix.

Re: Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

Just go with the radiator drain-n-fill. If you drain/fill often enough,
you shouldn't have to resort to block draining, chemicals or flushing.
Use the right stuff: Zerex G-05 is the only thing spec'd for my '05 TJL,
and it's likely the same for yours. Forget about 'universal' or
'compatible' coolants: use the right stuff. And always use distilled
water for the mix.

Re: Can't find the coolant drain plug???
 

Just go with the radiator drain-n-fill. If you drain/fill often enough,
you shouldn't have to resort to block draining, chemicals or flushing.
Use the right stuff: Zerex G-05 is the only thing spec'd for my '05 TJL,
and it's likely the same for yours. Forget about 'universal' or
'compatible' coolants: use the right stuff. And always use distilled
water for the mix.