stevie_b Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 (edited) I'm doing a coolant change right now, but I can't find the drain plug on the engine block. I've seen the diagram in the workshop manual, and I've also seen photos of the area. I've looked in various threads, including this one: http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?301785-Changing-engine-coolant-including-fluid-in-heater-matrix http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?249869-Can-somebody-help-me-identify-the-location-of-the-engine-block-coolant-drain-plug and this photo that someone posted up: http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=135329 but I can't marry up when I'm seeing in these photos/diagrams with what I've got on my drive. Do I need to remove any parts to access the drain plug? I've taken a couple of photos of my car: is the drain plug in either of these? Edited June 20, 2015 by stevie_b Added my photos (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 (edited) In your first picture, it's down behind the oxygen sensor on the left of the pic. There is a little metal tube coming directly out from the block and a 14mm nut above it. I'd take off the air intake and the manifold heat shield and then you should be able to access it, it's fiddly. Pic now added, the same oxygen sensor as yours is in the pic the drain is central but out of focus... Edited June 20, 2015 by Scooter (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted June 20, 2015 Author Share Posted June 20, 2015 Thanks Scooter. With your directions and photo, I think I can pinpoint where it is on the block, although I've still not seen it. There's 2 bolts on the heat shield that just don't want to give up. They're rusted on. I don't think I can access the drain plug without taking the heat shield off (not even from below), so I've sprayed it with WD40 a couple of times, but I think I'll have to skip draining the block unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 Those heat shield bolts can shear so I don't blame you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest durkdykstra Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Why dont you drain it from the radiator ? There is a drain on there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Why dont you drain it from the radiator ? There is a drain on there Because he's a perfectionist and just draining the rad still leaves a lot of water sat in the block Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 Why dont you drain it from the radiator ? There is a drain on there I did drain it from the rad, but like Chris said it leaves a lot of coolant still in the system. I drained off 4.7 litres from the radiator drain, which I left on until it wasn't even dripping anymore. With a capacity of 9 litres, that's only half of what's in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 I did this last year and finding the one on the engine block too me an hour as had no idea where it was and even after searching on here struggled. In the end I found it. I could see it from below only, but could only get to it from above so had to do it by feel alone making sure to only turn it enough to drain, if it'd come out i'd of been screwed. Probably easier ways to do it I'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 Mark, did you take the exhaust manifold heat shield off? Maybe I could have persevered with a mirror and doing it by feel, but even so that heat shield is a snug fit to the block/ manifold. With more patience maybe I could have touched the drain plug with the heat shield in place, but I don't fancy my chances of being able to slip a tool in there. Sounds like you may have managed it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 you should be able to get something on it by feel, if you can align it facing back and horizontally then from above get a long bit of wood or similar on top of it and tap/whack that down with a hammer that should loosen it enough to then do the rest by hand as even with the manifold cover off there isn't much room to get your hands in and give the spanner ratchet whatever enough beans to loosen it. I think the manifolds block a clear path out horizontally from the block, so you have to work in behind the manifolds which is obviously tight for space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Mark, did you take the exhaust manifold heat shield off? Maybe I could have persevered with a mirror and doing it by feel, but even so that heat shield is a snug fit to the block/ manifold. With more patience maybe I could have touched the drain plug with the heat shield in place, but I don't fancy my chances of being able to slip a tool in there. Sounds like you may have managed it though. I didn't remove anything. I managed to get a socket on it on a long extension purely by feel. If you have a friend I'd say one of you go under the car, from where you can see it and guide the other person with the socket from above to it. Or pay a garage you trust to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 I didn't remove anything. I managed to get a socket on it on a long extension purely by feel. If you have a friend I'd say one of you go under the car, from where you can see it and guide the other person with the socket from above to it. Or pay a garage you trust to do it. I don't think there is a clear path straight out on an NA, but with a universal join setup it should be doable with a helper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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