Plenum pull: draining coolant?

[ammrpm]

Is it absolutely necessary to drain the coolant before you pull the plenum? I disconnected the rubber coolant line that connects to the small hard line on the rear passenger side of the plenum. No coolant was coming out of this hose when I disconnected it. Is there another source of coolant that I am overlooking that would cause a major spill if I were to pull the plenum without draining all the coolant?

[mike100]

probably a good head of water will flow up from the heads and block- it definitely will if you remove the injector housings. Have you opened the radiator cap yet?- it may stream out when you do- just the vac bubble in the top of the radiator or fill jug is holding it from pissing out.

you should at least drain it enough to empty out the fill reservoir. The last time I had the water out of the car- I'm resigned to having to purge the air bubble every time now.

[Aurora40]

If the radiator cap is off, that tube on the passenger side should definitely stream about a quart or more of coolant out.

If you jack up the driver's side, this also helps. That may be enough to pull just the plenum, or you may get some pouring out. Having it run down the primary intake tubes sucks, so draining about a gallon total out is cheap insurance against a hassle.

[FU]

Antifreeze in the engine is usually big trouble.

[PhillipsLT5]

drain it

[ammrpm]

Thanks for all the quick responses everyone! It looks like I will be draining some coolant.

So if I just open the drain valve at the bottom of the radiator and let everything drain out that should be enough to do the plenum pull without any problems with coolant getting in anything?

Thanks for keeping me from making a rookie mistake. This is my first plenum pull.

[Z51JEFF]

You only need to drain about a gallon and thats plenty just for the plenum pull.

[sammy]

if it were me i would drain everything out of it by turning the radiator petcock then after i got her back together i would flush the system with water like it says in the fsm .then refill with a 50/50 mix of the good old green stuff .

[Toyvet1]

Easy way to drain is disconnect the hose fron the hard line. Put the hose in a clean one gallon bottle. Lower air compressor to about 15lbs and blow air in the hard line. Once you have a half gallon out pull the plenum ...works for me.