Location of engine block coolant drain plug on '97 V6

[Mgyver1]

I just did my 30k drain/fill coolant service and used both drains and found it was very easy to find the second drain. After draining the radiator, I found the block drain which was easy to get to from the top of the engine. I never saw it, it was all by feel. Just reach down on the passenger side of the engine towards the front and feel around until you feel the nipple. Get a ~2' long peice of 1/4" ID hose and push it on, and drop it down below in to your drain pan/bottle. Then a 14mm socket on an extension will reach the bolt which is right above the nipple.

After draining all of the radiator, I opened up the block drain and this is how much came out in to a 1 gallon container:

I know it's not much, but hey every little bit helps. Just posting this up to let everyone know the 3.4L drain plug does exist, at least on a 2000 Limited, and it's very easy to get to and use.

 

[AgeOfOctane]

I found the drain plug on my '96 the other day. It didn't have the tube, so it was a little messy, but I was able to access it through the passenger wheel well, after pulling back the flap. It's right behind the freeze plug. I had to use a series of ratchet extensions to reach it.
Image should be rotated 90* clockwise

 

[kolelt]

Is it necessary to drain it through the block ? Why not just take the radiator hose of ?

Found this on "the" Google

http://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/1...ited_3.4L_V6/coolant_antifreeze/flush_coolant

 

[Mgyver1]

Is it necessary to drain it through the block ? Why not just take the radiator hose of ?

Found this on "the" Google

Coolant Flush How-to: Toyota 4Runner (1996-2002) - 1999 Toyota 4Runner Limited 3.4L V6

I don't see how taking off the radiator hose will drain anymore than the drain cock on the bottom of the radiator. Draining the block just gets a little bit more out. Will it make a difference? Probably not a whole lot, but for those that are OCD like me then it helps me sleep better at night.

Also [MENTION=138025]AgeOfOctane[/MENTION], I never had to go through the fender to reach the bolt. For me, just one extension and the socket was all I needed to reach it from the top of the engine.

 

[pluton]

The first time I drained my 97/V6, after the radiator finished draining, I pulled off the thermostat cover(water outlet in Toyota speak). A rather large amount of coolant gushed out.
The contents of the radiator plus what came out of the water outlet came to within about 1 quart of the entire system capacity, so I stopped draining at that point, never to begin the search for the drains. The cheap drawing in the FSM doesn't help.