I went to flush my coolant a few days ago and couldn't get the radiator to drain. I turned the petcock open and had the radiator cap off but nothing came out. So I decided to do the flush anyways and it went as planned. The problem came when I went to fill it up and it only took about a half gallon. I'm assuming this was because of all the water still in the system that I couldn't drain.

My question is first, why would the radiator not drain? Petcock stripped? Clog in the drain? I rear-ended someone a few months ago but there's no damage to the radiator so I don't think that has anything to do with it.

Also, because of the water left in the system and the fact that I only had pre-mixed coolant I think I'm only running at about 15/85 coolant to water. My temperature has been fine so should I just leave it or try and figure out the drain issue so I can get a better mix?

As always, thanks in advance guys.

 

Ya know, that petcock will completely unscrew. You can remove the whole valve to drain it faster...

 

I'll try that. Thanks.

By the way, posted this in the wrong forum. Mods, feel free to move it.

 

If u want a more complete, better/faster drain, remove the bottom rad hose from the water pump. Accessing the rad hose at the pump is really easy with the plastic air filter box removed (3 bolts hold it in).

 

Install 3/8 rubber hose on petcock to drain it where you want to drain it.

 

I also drain the radiator via the lower radiator hose. Those petcocks are under-designed and prone to failure.

You can access the hose either from underneath or by removing the air filter box; I usually just get underneath it.

 

I would drain via lower radiator hose,85% water will not be good for the Jeep!!

 

FWIW, we just did a recent (July 4th) cooling system drain (via the lower rad hose, also drained the plastic bottle). System took just under 2 1/2 gals of 50/50 including filling the bottle 1/3 full. Took about 20 minutes start to finish including removing/installing air filter box and idling with the rad cap off for initial "burp". There was 2 of us. LOL

 

Got it done using the lower radiator hose.

Thanks guys.

 

Good deal, u da man.

 

If you can't get any drainage from the valve, it usually means that that part of your radiator is clogged. Needs to be cleaned out.