Coolant Drian Plug Removal (can I leave it?)

[metalvolks]

Hello,

Fairly new to Opels (had my '73 for 8 months now), but am doing 35 years of maintenance in one week on it (60K original miles - nothing done to it...ever). Gil must love me at OGTS.

Anyway, I went to drain the coolant system last night (took off the hoses). I looked for the engine case plug to drain the coolant in the case, but it looks incredibly hard to get to (unlike other motors I've worked on). I was barely able to get a wrench in there-but without taking the intake and exhaust off to get to it, I can't budge it. I'm in a time crunch and need the car operational by Thursday.

Anyway, I plan on filling it with deionized water and running for 10 minutes or so to get the rest of the greenish brown (OLD) antifreeze out. Then, planning on putting antifreeze/water (50/50) after I drain the water out.

Question: Would it hurt if I left the drain plug as it is? Any suggestions on how to get to the plug without taking out half the engine?!

Paul
'73 GT

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by metalvolks Question: Would it hurt if I left the drain plug as it is? Any suggestions on how to get to the plug without taking out half the engine?!

It probably won't come out anyway. When I overhaul a shortblock I generally have to heat the block to red-hot around the plug, then use a 4-point socket to remove the plug after dripping wax into the threads. Sometimes you still have to clamp vise-grips onto the plug to unscrew it, and maybe even reheat it a few times to get it to crack loose. So they're not always removeable in the car!

I'd just backflush the system as best as you physically can with water.

Bob

[Bill Hoffmann]

I would leave it alone until a day you're changing manifolds or something where you have good access. You might want to put some radiator cleaner in during that flushing step to remove some of the deposits in there, especially in the heater core (make sure the heater valve is open).

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by metalvolks Hello, Fairly new to Opels (had my '73 for 8 months now), . . . Anyway, . . . I'm in a time crunch and need the car operational by Thursday. Anyway, I plan on . . . putting antifreeze/water (50/50) after I drain the water out. Question: Would it hurt if I left the drain plug as it is? Any suggestions on how to get to the plug without taking out half the engine?! Paul '73 GT

For your year-round temps, I'd put 25/75 mix in it . . . like I do with all of mine here in Texas, north-Texas that is.

[namba209]

Hey, Paul, where you at here inSANe Diego? Back to the topic at hand, everyone is right, leave the drain plug alone, pull the lower radiator hose and let'er rip, just be environmentally conscious. After you get the cooling system drained, pull the heater hoses off the engine, put a high pressure nozzle on a hose, then stick it in the heater hoses, switching back and forth with the water valve open, until you get clean water out of them. Then do the same with the radiator hoses. When you're ready to finish the job, get some distilled water to mix with the anti-freeze and fill'er up. The local water here is not good for cooling systems. BTW if you're interested, I can fix you up with a car pass and reduced price tickets for the Coronado Classic Car Races and Speed Festival coming up, October 6th and 7th. It's a good way to meet fellow Opelers in the area and show off your car at the same time. I plan to put my GT on the mobile dyno to see what it's got this year.

[oldopelguy]

Originally Posted by tekenaar For your year-round temps, I'd put 25/75 mix in it . . . like I do with all of mine here in Texas, north-Texas that is.

I'd recommend the same, but I'd add a bottle of Water Wetter as well. Can't be too careful, especially if you live somewhere hot.

[metalvolks]

Thanks for everyones help. Namba, when you mean "high pressure nozzle" can I use a garden hose to flush everything out? I don't have a compressor or power washer to do that task...

Also, about the races at Coronado... I will take you up on that offer!! I've been wanting to go for the past few years but always busy-I will bring the Opel too. This weekend will be my 4th annual pilgrimage to Laguna Seca in Montery for the classic car races...the Opel will (hopefully) be making the trek to join other cars of its caliber. - if you've never been...you gotta go at least once...

If you would like to email me my email is metalvolks"AT"yahoo.com. I live in Tierrasanta.

Oh and I will pick up some Water Wetter today as well .... thanks OldOpelGuy

[Bill Hoffmann]

Originally Posted by metalvolks Namba, when you mean "high pressure nozzle" can I use a garden hose to flush everything out? I don't have a compressor or power washer to do that task...

I would just get some coolant flush and follow the directions, then with both sides of the heater core open, flush in both directions with the garden hose until you get clear water out. You have to be careful not to use too much pressure. The radiator and heater core are old and not designed for even as much as the garden hose could create if allowed to pressurize the system.

[namba209]

Guys, the suggestion for a high pressure nozzle is so you can kinda seal the nozzle in to the heater hoses. The nozzle is about 2" long and tapers down to a small 3/16" hole. Bill, with a ball shutoff valve on the end of the hose, you can vary the pressure and flow coming out of the hose. It's a set up I've used lotsa times and helps keep my dry when I flush out the heater core.

metalvolks, I'll send you an e-mail shortly with the info I have on the Coronado Speed Festival.

[Bill Hoffmann]

Originally Posted by namba209 Guys, the suggestion for a high pressure nozzle is so you can kinda seal the nozzle in to the heater hoses. The nozzle is about 2" long and tapers down to a small 3/16" hole. Bill, with a ball shutoff valve on the end of the hose, you can vary the pressure and flow coming out of the hose. It's a set up I've used lotsa times and helps keep my dry when I flush out the heater core.

O.K. I've done similar things. I just wanted to caution not to let any pressure build up in the system. As long as the other side is open you can't get in too much trouble. I just get nervous when air pressure is mentioned.

[namba209]

I guess I should have been a bit more specific. I have a new 1800 PSI vapor blaster, and I sure wouldn't use that in either heater core or radiator. Here's a pic of the two nozzles I do use and the ball shut-off valve I put on the end of the hose, just to keep everyone on track.

[tekenaar]

metalvolks, been meaning to ask you about "Coolant Drian Plug Removal (can I leave it?)" . . . is that just a "Southern" drain plug?!

[Lindsay]

For awhile, I used http://www.prestone.com/products/fla...cessories2.swf with good results. Not sure why I removed it when new heater hoses were installed?

[metalvolks]

Thanks for all your help guys - it ran great all the way to Laguna Seca and back - 14-15 hours in a weekend. I even went up the grapevine before LA and it didn't even break half on the temp gauge! A 34 year old original Opel is still VERY reliable.

Hey Lindsay, where do you live in San Diego? I met another San Diego Opeler up in Monterey this weekend...can't remember his name, but he knows you Ron (he has the '72 Orange GT with the 2.4 - really nice guy. It's great to have so many opels close by!

Anyway, I'll be asking more questions soon (because there is more to fix on the GT )

Paul

[namba209]

Originally Posted by metalvolks Thanks for all your help guys - it ran great all the way to Laguna Seca and back - 14-15 hours in a weekend. I even went up the grapevine before LA and it didn't even break half on the temp gauge! A 34 year old original Opel is still VERY reliable. Hey Lindsay, where do you live in San Diego? I met another San Diego Opeler up in Monterey this weekend...can't remember his name, but he knows you Ron (he has the '72 Orange GT with the 2.4 - really nice guy. It's great to have so many opels close by! Paul

Glad to hear you had an uneventful trip, problem wise. I'm gonna have to make that trip one day, I've got relatives up that way. You've probably met Gary Ruhle, if so, his Opel was up for sale last year. he ran it across the dyno at the Speed Festival last year and put up some good numbers, even though it was just a tad rich IIRC. I'll be getting more info on the Classic Car Races the first of the month.

[tekenaar]

. . . here's an idea for a replacement that permanently eliminates the removal problem forever!