how to drain coolant from engine/heater core 1995 3VZ-E

[odoyle81]

So I was doing a drain flush and fill of the radiator system in my 1995 3VZ-E 4runner, sort of following these directions:
How hard is it to flush the Radiator - YotaTech Forums

But I'm realizing that as I do the flushes with distilled water, I'm not getting all the water out, so when I'm done, and I try to fill with 50/50 mix, the leftover distilled water in the core and engine will mess up the ratio, and I'm not sure by how much.. I'm guessing there is probably still a gallon in there somehow.

So does anyone know where the drain valve is located on the heater core or whatever I need to do to drain the rest of the distilled water from the system?

I can't find the appropriate section in the FSM either.

Thanks for any advice.. I haven't done this before, and in retrospect, I should have probably just done a drain and fill.. but it is too late now..

Thanks!

 

[KidVermicious]

You're overthinking this. The bottom of your radiator is the low point in the system, open that valve and nearly all the coolant/water will drain. There may be one or two points in the system where a couple ounces of coolant/water can get trapped, don't worry about it. Getting your mix exactly 50/50 is not that critical, and even if it was there won't be enough water trapped in the system to throw it off by any appreciable amount anyway.

 

[fourwd1]

He's right, it's not that critical.
Just remember to bleed the air out of the system when you are done.

 

[odoyle81]

Thanks! I've been filling it and then running with the cap off and the heat on for 15 mins and topping off.. it keep disappearing somewhere, hopefully it will be full soon (I've done that 2x so far).

 

[KidVermicious]

It helps if you raise the front of the truck. Park on a slope, put it on ramps, etc. I almost always have to top off after a couple laps around the block anyway.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

I agree with everyone here! Its MUCH more important to burp that system than anything else with the cooling system! Believe me when I say if you don't get all the air purged out of it, you are looking for trouble with a blown head gasket!

Easy way to tel if you got it all out, around 2-3000rpm while driving, flip your heater to hot. If you hear gurgling, you did not get all the air out!

I'd do this for a week straight! Every morning when you take off for work/school/whatever, as soon as you see the temp gauge level off, flip the heater core to full heat and listen for that gurgle. If you hear it, you'll need to park on a very steep hill, open that radiator cap (don't do this when its hot please!), then let it run that air pocket through the system and out the filler neck!

If you're really worried about the mixture being perfect, get yourself this:

http://www.amazon.com/Cool-Trak-311519-Coolant-Testing-Strips/dp/B000MIUJMO

or:

http://www.amazon.com/Prestone-AF-1420-Antifreeze-Coolant-Tester/dp/B000BOA9RY/ref=pd_bxgy_263_img_z

Personally, I just dump a half gallon of distilled water in, a half gallon of toyota red (non premixed stuff), then put a little more of each in until its filled to the top. Close enough and never a worry of it ever freezing in winter. It doesn't take much to keep the system from rusting, you could probably get away with a 75/25 mix without problems, unless you live in Alaska or something!