C5 radiator drain plug - where is it?

[yellowshark454]

OK embarrassing. Got the afternoon off to replace the coolant and foiled at the first step, 2nd actually, I did manage to locate the surge tank cap!!!

Car jacked up and have inspected both sides of the rad but blowed if I can see it. Service manual not helpful, got a drawing of replacing the drain plug but not clear on the context of where it is. Which side, drivers or passenger would help for starters and any further detail would help more. Cant beleieve this

[LuS1fer]

Many don't have one, you just pull off the bottom hose. My Z28 was supposed to have one but didn't.

[yellowshark454]

Certainly not the case for USA C5s but this is a UK one. Strange that they would make such a change though. I suspect this one is user error rather than design incompetence! Not helped by needing reading glasses and under there everything is close up and out of focus

[fletch360]

I've just found an item on google that says
"The radiator drain is at the lower, right corner of the radiator. ..."
Not a lot of help, but I can't get the link to work, and cant access the google CACHE from work.
www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=corvette+c5+radiator+drain&meta=

[fletch360]

Ooo, There's more.
"It should be on the bottom of the radiator, on the passenger side,
facing the engine. I can't really tell from looking at the shop
manual. But, that's where it is usually located. "

"Yep, that's where it is. Sorta greenish plastic, about 1/2 turn
counterclockwise to open. "

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.


PS.. From 1999 though

Edited by fletch360 on Wednesday 30th August 15:30

Edited by fletch360 on Wednesday 30th August 15:31

[yellowshark454]

Ok , what I am now looking at, right at the bottom passsenger side corner, on the side that faces the engine, and housed in the plastic frame, backing onto the rad, which I guess holds the fans, is a white plastic plug (mine's a 2001) with a face about the size of a 20p pice that has a couple of small protusions that allow a wide bladed screw driver to be used or within the body of the plug is an aperture for a small allen key.

I assume this is it. It does not look like the plug shown in the 2001 GM Service manual though, which baffle me slighlty, the manual shows a plug with a very stout protusion on the face which one would uses fingers to undo . But I cannot see anything else in that area, so I guess it must be that.If anyone with a 2000-2002 C5 can confirm that would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help Fletch

[yellowshark454]

yellowshark454 said:

Ok , what I am now looking at, right at the bottom passsenger side corner, on the side that faces the engine, and housed in the plastic frame, backing onto the rad, which I guess holds the fans, is a white plastic plug (mine's a 2001) with a face about the size of a 20p pice that has a couple of small protusions that allow a wide bladed screw driver to be used or within the body of the plug is an aperture for a small allen key.

Small innacuracy there.The plug I am looking at seems to be housed in a frame beside the radiator, not the plastic fan housing.I am guessing that it is going into a L shaped pipe that bends to the left and goes into the rad but I cannot see, hence my uncertainty.

[yellowshark454]

fletch360 said:

I've just found an item on google that says
"The radiator drain is at the lower, right corner of the radiator. ..."
Not a lot of help, but I can't get the link to work, and cant access the google CACHE from work.
www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=corvette+c5+radiator+drain&meta=

Ok I followed this link through and it refers to the white plug I am looking at. Doing the job properly I now see that the frame I referred too must be an integral part of the radiator as the outlet hose goes into this some 4-5 inches above. The post refers to the square hole and using a 1/4 ratchet extension to turn it which I am sure I dont have and will now turn the garage upside down - but I am sure I can see an allen key slot further down within the square hole...

[yellowshark454]

OK job done. I was right on both counts, I didnt have a 1/4 inch extension and that was an allen key slot. It turned about 1/8th of a turn. Nothing happened but jiggling about with the allen key for about 10 secs freed the plug and that lovely DexCool is now pouring out. In about 2 hours I will be declaring myself as a centre of competence for C5 coolant replacement!

[fletch360]

And a new expert is born.

If you're ever up Wakefield way, bring your allen key
There'll be a beer in it for you.


So...
What is the recommended cycle for the radiator coolent change?

[yellowshark454]

5 years or 150,000 miles. No doubt some of the fraternity (we do like to cuddle our babies) may have a different view. I am at 5 years at about 75000 miles