'99 5.4L, So, I want to flush out the old coolant and put some clean stuff in there. I saw the online writeup about draining the coolant from the block and it seems like coolant will end up going everywhere and making a mess if I just take the drain plug off. Is there a recommended way of doing this without necessitating removing a bunch of crap?

 

If I remember right when I did mine last summer. There is a extension off of the radiator drain plug for a rubber hose. I know that I didn't have any mess when I did mine. I didn't have to remove anything to get to my drain spout either.

 

I figured that part out. I'm talking about draining the actual block itself. According to the Haynes book, there's a drain plug on each side of the block too.

 

hmm, I'll have to look at my manuals. Your not refering to the freeze plugs are you.

 

I would compare it to changing your oil. Once you remove the plug, fluid will pour out.

When I drained the my 99 4.6 block, I put a pail underneath so the coolant would not go all over the driveway.

 

I have never drained the block. For the time and trouble that it is to do, I just pay for a flush and be done with it. I believe last year it cost me 75$ and 1 hour out of my day to do it.

 

Damn, I would do it for $50 - Simple, takes no time to speak of once you know what your doin.

I did a write up on that, - if you find it, let me know would yuh.

There's a inset (female) allen bolt (T55 I believe)/drivers side. If you have a drain plug on the passenger side , consider yourself lucky because I never seen one on that side and I've looked on a few different trucks.

You'll need impact action to get her out or you'll most likely strip it. Tape it before you install.

Good Luck

 

Hey, I found the right up from Ford Service. Need and email address to send it to. Covers everything - Burping/Bleeding as well. To much work to post here, emails easy tho.

 

I wondered why I did not get nearly enough coolant out that I thought I would get when I did a first change about two years ago.

I decided last year that I would just drain what I can from the radiator valve and just refill that once a year. Its very simple and quick to do (other than waiting for it to drain but I usually tinker with other things while Im waiting). After several years, its almost like getting a complete change and always keeps fresh coolant in there.

 

On my 97 F150 I removed both plugs from the block,one on each side,and installed a 1/4" brass nipple with a ball valve to drain the block!

 

coolant will go everywhere!!! i took mine out of the drivers side and used a funnel and a some hose to direct the coolant. but it was a huge pain the butt!!

 

You lucked out having two plugs, mine absolutely does not! I went as far as wire wheeling the entire passenger side of the block. No Plug

Same deal on a 99 I work on once in awhile, except for the wire wheeling part (*** that, not doing that again).. I haven't check the 01 yet. What's the deal, why just one on some?

Ball valves a good idea - that's where it gets messy -Coolant hits to many obstacles on the way down before making it to the bucket. Yea that would be nifty, connect a piece of tube to the valve right ?

You have a lock on that valve? That would suck if you hit a chuck hole hard and she turned on
-What about debris/foreign matter flying into the valve, turning it ? -or possibly taking it out completely

Hope your not paranoid now .