Well, since I'm on the site, I might as well ask...

I'm not a mechanic but I wanted to drain and refill my 1997 F 150 4.2l V-6 radiator. Seems there's a shroud on the top covering the normal radiator cap and I can't seem to find the drain plug (another shroud covering the lower radiator). Seems Ford doesn't want me to fiddle with it but I'm determined to mess it up anyhow.

So, following questions to those in the know:

1. Where does it drain from?

2. Where do I fill it at?

3. Is there an exact anti-freeze I need to use (i.e. Ford Premium Blend Red/Gold/Purple) or can I just use good old green Prestone?

4. How much does it take (volume, in quarts or gallons, please- I'm not metric literate yet)?

Thanks a heap!!!

P.S. I don't have an owner's manual- bought it used.


Steve
holtrx@gmail.com

 

Well I know that you will need green do NOT use ornage (dexcool) yellow is what ford now uses. I don't believe their is a rad cap on the rad it is on the over flow bottle which is were you would normally fill it (most cars are like this.) You could pull your upper hose and fiil it that way for most of it and then finish it with the bottle. As far as the other two I can't help.

 

I'd take it to a shop and have it done with a machine. It's not that expensive.

 

Okay, ya talked me into it. Just because it's a 13 year old truck I just bought used (only 65k miles though), I went to Midas with a coupon and had it power flushed and filled for $95.00. Now it's done but in the future I'd still prefer to just drain and refill it myself. So, where's that old drain plug hiding????