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drain plug won't turn???

 
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Old Nov 20, 2017
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drain plug won't turn???

hey guys i got a couple of dealer jugs of coolant i tried draining my antifreeze but I'm running into a bit of a pinch with the drain plug found at the bottom of my radiator i can't get it to turn by hand Arrrg is there some tool i don't no about that i need to put on ?
Old Nov 20, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

I probably have some carpal tunnel going on......I almost always have to use a little help from a pair of pliers or something.
Old Nov 22, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

thanks ezone I got the stuburn drain plug loose using pliers I drained the radiator today it was very dark blue in colour I then filled it back up & drove it around a little.and all is ok should I do 2 or 3 more drain & fills? somehow I don't think 1 would be enough.
Old Nov 22, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

Originally Posted by rogerscivic
thanks ezone I got the stuburn drain plug loose using pliers I drained the radiator today it was very dark blue in colour I then filled it back up & drove it around a little.and all is ok should I do 2 or 3 more drain & fills? somehow I don't think 1 would be enough.
Hondas type 2 coolant is dark blue. Was yours darker than the brand new type 2? Did it have something incorrect poured in at any point in its life?


First coolant service is either 100,000 or 120,000 miles (160-190k kms) (actual interval varies in different model years) or 10 years, whichever comes first.
Subsequent coolant services after that are every 5 years/50-60k miles (80-96k kms).
Check your owners manual or check the spec sticker in the engine compartment, usually on the hood.


A single drain and fill is really all that is expected in a routine service.
The type 2 coolant is good, I have no problem with only a single service.

Unless someone poured in the wrong stuff at some point in its life, or you didn't use the right coolant. Then your service interval should probably be every 2 years.
Old Nov 23, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

rogerscivic I think You mentioned on Your other posts that You have owned Your Civic for about a Year now...?
If in Doubt it Never hurts to be thorough when Your talking about Maintenance "Personaly if it were me owing a used Civic
for the 1st time" I wouldn't be Guessing in the Dark

as far as Guessing if fluids are still any Good or Not. for starters I would be doing at least 3 Drain and Fills on the Coolant it wont hurt anything. and at Least You no its all New and that Your good for Next couple of Years Anyway . that's Just My View On it.
Old Nov 24, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

Thanks for the reply 2 more drains is that to get any old residual coolant out ?
Old Nov 24, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

Originally Posted by rogerscivic
Thanks for the reply 2 more drains is that to get any old residual coolant out ?
LOL You mentioned in Your other Post its Dark Blue when You 1st changed it Coolant Capacity on a 1.8 2008 Civic DX 4 Door is aproximatley 6.5 Liters total If were talking about the Same Civic..?" even though your getting 4 liters out on a single drain and Fill where 2 would equal 8 Liters & 3rd 11 Liters etc... in my opinion the more of the Old residual coolant You can get out the better for the cooling system and remember to take off the coolant reservoir and give it a thorough wash before installing back.
Old Nov 24, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

The radiator is about all you can drain out during a simple drain and fill.

There's still quite a bit of liquid that remains inside the engine block and heater system. You can't ever get it all out unless you do some serious work.

Your fresh coolant will mix in with that remaining old liquid as you pour it in and run the engine.

IF you want to get more of that mixture exchanged, then you run it, drain and fill again, and run it some more.
Repeat until you feel like the majority of the liquid in the system is new, or you are happy with the amount of new coolant you think is in the system.

Rough example of old liquid remaining (or replacement by attrition):
First drain and fill = 50%
Next drain and fill = 25%
Next drain and fill = 12.5%
Next drain and fill = 6.25%
etc., etc.
Old Nov 24, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

as you guys can see I'm not to savy on this topic your help is awesome guys thank-you
Old Nov 25, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

good morning guys I got up this morning to get a head start on my drain and fill on my 08 civic and noticed the reserve antifreeze bottle found behind the battery was below the add mark? I had taken it off to wash on last drain and fill but I no I put it back exactly how I took it off and filled it up to max mark and connected the black hose to it I just ran the engine now and cant find nothing leaking anywhere? guys did I do something wrong on the last drain and fill I don't no about?
Old Nov 25, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

Originally Posted by rogerscivic
good morning guys I got up this morning to get a head start on my drain and fill on my 08 civic and
noticed the reserve antifreeze bottle found behind the battery was below the add mark? I had taken it off to wash on last drain and fill but I no I put it back exactly how I took it off and filled it up to max mark and connected the black hose to it I
just ran the engine now and cant find nothing leaking anywhere? guys did I do something wrong on the last drain and fill I don't no about?
Theres no Leak. its simpley an Air Pocket in the cooling system that Got filled back-Up On Your next drain & Fill cycle keep an eye on reservoir bottle and Top it Up.
Old Nov 25, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

Originally Posted by brags
Theres no Leak. its simpley an Air Pocket in the cooling system that Got filled back-Up On Your next drain & Fill cycle keep an eye on reservoir bottle and Top it Up.
^This.^

Trapped air will be working its way out over the next few warmup and cooldown cycles. Refill reservoir as needed until it stays stable.
Old Nov 25, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

just finished my second drain and fill I watched a video on it and they never mentioned anything about air pockets- traped air .? I will let it cool down and re-check my level again I'm learning as I go so bear with me thanks again brags and ezone.
Old Nov 25, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

How are you "burping" the system?
Old Nov 25, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

Originally Posted by ezone
How are you "burping" the system?
hi ezone I'm not sure what you mean by "burping" the system please elaborate?
Old Nov 25, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

Originally Posted by rogerscivic
hi ezone I'm not sure what you mean by "burping" the system please elaborate?
In other words after You have drained all of the coolant then re-filled radiator what are You doing next to re-lease trapped Air out of Your cooling system is what ezone refers to as "burping" or as better known in the industry as "bleeding Air from coolant" are You idling engine with radiator Cap off or opening a bleeder screw?
Old Nov 25, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

The R engines have no bleeder valve.

I install a spill free radiator funnel (greatest thing since sliced bread, see pic below) and just keep it filled part way throughout the burp process, then brick the gas pedal so the engine stays revved up (actually I use a real throttle jack and set RPM around 3000) and walk away until I hear the fans run.






The higher RPM (and increased water pump speed) circulates liquid through the system with more pressure, which kinda pushes more trapped air out than if you only idle the engine.

I know it still doesn't always get all the air out on the first go around, but I work in a shop--ain't nobody got time fo dat.......So I intentionally overfill the reservoir in hopes that within a couple days it stabilizes within the acceptable range marks.
Old Nov 26, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

good morning civic members on my first drain and fill i switched heater to max and went ahead and filed radiator and the plastic bottle up and drove it for 2 days everything worked fine after word opened hood to do another drain and fill and noticed clear bottle near empty watched the video again and now i got it and understand by what the person there was trying to show me with there radiator full cap off and engine idling they did say to rev it to 3000 rpm for i think 5 minutes guys i caught on to this step "burping" that i missed doing my 3rd drain and fill this morning i like the spill free funnel ezone posted. help is appreciated thanks
Old Nov 26, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

i switched heater to max
On your car do not do this during the burping procedures

Reasons:
1) The heaters liquid circuit has no shutoff valve on your particular car, so coolant always flows regardless of temp dial position

2) The heater fan running will remove valuable heat from the cooling system, so that means it can significantly delay warmup and thermostat opening, and depending on conditions it might keep the engine cool enough to negate the need for the radiator fans to run.

To get the system burped, you WANT the thing to get hot and open the thermostat and run the radiator fans.
Old Nov 26, 2017
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Question Re: drain plug won't turn???

I hope he's disposing the old coolant properly.? the Recycling facility near me gets all my old fluids inc. engine Oil & Oil Filter
Old Nov 26, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

^Good point there^

DangerZone (and many other automotive fluid retailers) "should" take it too.......and if he's purchasing Genuine Honda stuff from the dealer they "should" accept it for recycling
Old Nov 26, 2017
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Re: drain plug won't turn???

just finished 3rd drain and fill just now i have all old coolant in big plastic jugs stored in my garage for dropping off sometime during the week at the recycling place thanks - again guys this forum Rocks!
 




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