Draining Radiator w/o the Mess

[Tony_SS]

Any tricks to emptying out antifreeze from the system w/o making a huge mess?

I was going to drain the pitcock but there's not clear path to flow the fluid w/o it going everywhere at once.

Should I get a pump and suction it out the top? Suggestions? I need to do a radiator swap.

 

[kicker30]

Get a short piece of hose that fits snugly on the pitcock and then put the other end in whatever container you are draining the fluid into, then just open the pitcock and let drain. If you can find clear tube then you can watch everything come out.

 

[Tony_SS]

I dont see how a hose would fit over the end of the pitcock. Its flat on the end of the 'wingnut'. Or should I get hose big enough to fit over the 'whole' (wingnut portion) of the the pitcock?

 

[nvrenuf]

big mouth funnel with a flexible neck into a bucket?

 

[Tony_SS]

I just looked again. The steering box is right under the #$% pitcock, so there's no place to make a good drain there.

I either pull the lower hose and make a big mess or siphon it out the top. I think I'm going to get a siphon pump. Im working in a tight garage with no room so I'm trying to avoid the clean up.

 

[driney]

Some petcocks have a shoulder you can put a piece of tubing on. While your radiator is empty you might change to one. I have drained radiators by putting a 5 gal bucket under the truck and only opening the petcock enough you can keep the bucket in the right place. Its slow, but doesn't make too much mess. Keep an eye on it though. As the radiator gets lower, sometimes what was trickling off one side of the box can switch to the other side.

 

[BS_k5]

Try taking a hose and cutting slits where the handles/wings of the pitcock are. Seems to have made the least mess for me

 

[kicker30]

Some petcocks have a shoulder you can put a piece of tubing on. While your radiator is empty you might change to one.

Thats the kind of petcock I thought you had. I would change to one when you have it drained.

 

[Yo]

I use a huge galvanized bucket for bbq/tailgate coolers etc when I'm draining coolant. Just slide the thing right under the steering box, pull off the radiator cap, pull petcock, and have at it.

A little gets on the ground, but it works if you're not reusing coolant. I usually never reuse coolant...

 

[rufusbooth]

Go to your local home depot and get a general purpose mixing tub. Iit will be in the mortar/concrete area. BEST 15 bucks I have EVER spent. I can yank the lower hose off the radiator and not spill a drop.

It is also the best tool for transmission service. pull the pan and not make a mess.

 

[DR]

http://www.dripslipper.com/

its only 250.00

 

[michael0584]

I siphoned mine with one of these

http://www.amazon.com/Custom-Access..._2?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1268096480&sr=1-2

 

[Russell]

I just shove a piece of tubing in the Rad all the way down to the bottom, and start a siphon by sucking on the far end. Drains probably 75% of the coolant in the whole system. Just makes a little mess instead of a big one when you take the lower rad hose off :d