Radiator drain plugs

[fastfredracing]

In the history of the automobile, has there ever been a coolant drain plug , that drains out , neatly , into the container like it should .
This morning, I enjoyed watching coolant, run down the frame rails, and coming out in 13 different spots, with only maybe one or two streams actually making it into my drain pan . I try to keep my shop floor clean, but find it nearly impossible .
I now have about 1/2" of coolant in the drain pan, and a huge puddle on the floor . I find it pretty rare when you can even get at the drain plugs, let alone capture the coolant coming out .
BMW is good about this. Porsche usually is also . Anything American, fuggetaboutit
Anyhow, Its Friday! Have a nice weekend gentlemen.

[wswartzwel]

Agreed. I use a fluid evacuator when the cap is on one end or the other.

[asphaltgambler]

……….uh no

[VincentVega]

btdt

My favorite is when the drain pain that starts on top of the oil drain decides it really wants to be on the floor.

I think honda plugs generally work ok.

[masraum]

That reminds me of oil filters that go on sideways above a bunch of other stuff in a hard to reach spot, so whatever oil is in the filter is guaranteed to drain down the block and on top of whatever is below it hoses, steering/suspension, body, etc... no matter what you do.

[Scott Douglas]

Here I am about to do the annual oil changes on our Honda's and am thinking about the possibility of making a mess. I know I need to use some aluminum foil when removing the filter on my Accord, to keep the oil off the frame/suspension. The CR-V is pretty good as far as not being a pain as both the drain plug and filter are fairly well thought out.
Now I just have to steel myself to crawling around on the hard concrete. Cardboard is my friend there.

[masraum]

Wow, Scott, I just noticed in your sig that you're SC had a Sportomatic. Wow, that's I assume that was a very rare option. Very interesting. I don't think I've ever seen one in person.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

I think honda plugs generally work ok.

I have seen some Hondas where they have holes in the shrouding underneath that lets it drain through. Nice big 19MM nylon nut for the drain, IIRC.

2002 Taurus DOHC. Drain on driver's side, coolant exit off of of some bracket on passenger side.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

2002 Taurus DOHC. Drain on driver's side, coolant exit off of of some bracket on passenger side.

Engineering at it's finest.

[Scott Douglas]

My brother emailed me yesterday that he bought an M10-1.0 tap to clean up the threads on a 944 radiator that he and his son are resurrecting.

Steve - Yes, very rare car, special ordered that way.

[MBAtarga]

Seems the 87 Jeep Cherokee we owned had a fairly decent petcock.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

btdt

My favorite is when the drain pain that starts on top of the oil drain decides it really wants to be on the floor.

I think honda plugs generally work ok.

Would agree with the Honda endorsement. My Acura TL and Honda Civic drained coolant just like the manual said it should. Slight PITA on the Acura, IIRC, as I had to jack the car up high enough to get the pain under the right spot.

The RV (based on an '84 Chevy full size van chassis) I had drained non-messily, as well. Gotta love ground clearance.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I know I need to use some aluminum foil when removing the filter on my Accord, to keep the oil off the frame/suspension.

Changing the oil on my Civic this past weekend, I balanced a little plastic pan (from some frozen or microwaved food package) on an A-arm under the oil filter before unscrewing it. All the oil that dripped, did so into that pan! I thought I was a genius (why haven't I been doing this the past 20 years?!) until I closed one of the car doors and the pan fell from its perch. Fortunately it landed partially in the large oil catch basin under the oil drain plug. But I still made a splash onto the concrete. All's well with kitty litter and a couple days, though.

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

In the history of the automobile, has there ever been a coolant drain plug , that drains out , neatly , into the container like it should .

Most of my DIY stuff has been on air cooled junk. I can report that it was clean and easy to drain coolant from the 928 S4 that I owned. Plug was well positioned and drained directly into the catch pan placed underneath.

Love my Mercedes cars with replaceable paper oil filter elements in housings mounted under the hood. Very easy to service with no mess. The most shockingly bad fluid change I have to deal with is my Kubota B2320. There is a major steel frame member directly under the oil drain plug. Messy and annoying.

[wdfifteen]

I understand completely Fred. It’s one of the immutable laws of mechanicing.

[Tobra]

Miata is right in the middle and easy to drain. Wife has a Mistubishi SUV that has a doo dad that sticks out and is amenable to putting a hose on it to direct liquid into a pan. Acura integra was easy too, if I recall correctly

[pete3799]

Drain plug?
We have two Kenworth plow trucks (2015 T880 and a 2014 T460) and neither one has a radiator drain plug. What the hell were they thinking. Only way to drain it is to pull the lower hose off.
Talk about messy.....

[cstreit]

So, what you're saying is that your drain pan is way to small.

[pwd72s]

Remember the old petcocks with "wings" on the sides..just loosen with a pair of pliers? I used to plug a piece of small dia. clear plastic hose over the spout, drain into a bucket.

Then car makers had to "improve" the design...

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by cstreit

So, what you're saying is that your drain pan is way to small.

LOL....however, on a serious note.

They do make plastic cement mixing tubs that would be nice and maybe a good percentage of the belch can hit the pan. They are about three feet by two feet and eight inches deep.

I just did a 2004 Volvo XC90. No drain plug and hose had to be yanked as owner filled slow leak since mid-summer with water. Would have been nice to have that tub vs using $5 worth of absorbent.