Sheared Engine Block Drain Plug Bolt?

[Kimby]

Kimby here, of the "Dump or Keep this Rolla" thread. Reco-ing an AE-92 engine, 4AFC model. We're keeping it, and are progressing nicely through the advice received here. However, after removing the oil filter (a joy in itself, as many of you know) we cannot locate the engine block drain plug per the pretty photos in the Haynes manual. The best we can find is a bolt hole, about 7 or 8 mm in diameter, with what feels to be a sheared off bolt inside. This is located just behind the oil filter screw toward the center (not drivers side) of the engine cavity. As the head gasket is blown, we REALLY need to drain the block, right? We have litres of coolant "missing".

 

I am guessing that our best bet, as we do not have the fancy drill bit to burr out sheared bolt (sorry I cannot remember the right name for this, but I know what it is), is to call a mobile service for this task. However, given where the mother-loving drain is located (we couldn't even take a picture for you without some tiny spy-camera with a flash) I am worried that the engine will have to be pulled, partially unfastened, or some other heinous amount of work.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. For those of you old enough to know American tv from the 1970's, as Emily Litella said...."It's always something."

 

And thanks for your friendliness to this Yank broad. And a n00b no less!

 

Warmly,

 

Kimby

[Hiro Protagonist]

Kimby here, of the "Dump or Keep this Rolla" thread. Reco-ing an AE-92 engine, 4AFC model. We're keeping it, and are progressing nicely through the advice received here. However, after removing the oil filter (a joy in itself, as many of you know) we cannot locate the engine block drain plug per the pretty photos in the Haynes manual. The best we can find is a bolt hole, about 7 or 8 mm in diameter, with what feels to be a sheared off bolt inside. This is located just behind the oil filter screw toward the center (not drivers side) of the engine cavity. As the head gasket is blown, we REALLY need to drain the block, right? We have litres of coolant "missing".

 

I am guessing that our best bet, as we do not have the fancy drill bit to burr out sheared bolt (sorry I cannot remember the right name for this, but I know what it is), is to call a mobile service for this task. However, given where the mother-loving drain is located (we couldn't even take a picture for you without some tiny spy-camera with a flash) I am worried that the engine will have to be pulled, partially unfastened, or some other heinous amount of work.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. For those of you old enough to know American tv from the 1970's, as Emily Litella said...."It's always something."

 

And thanks for your friendliness to this Yank broad. And a n00b no less!

 

Warmly,

 

Kimby

 

The block coolant drain should be to the left of the oil filter (ie the driver's side). It can be a real pain to get off though, but it isn't necessary if you just want to flush the system rather than empty it. Pull the heater hoses off the firewall and stick a garden hose up one of them (with the heater tap open) and flush the system until you get clean water coming out the other hose. That way you should bypass the thermostat (I'd pull the bottom hose off the radiator and drain that too).

[altezzaclub]

What else are you planning to do on the engine?

 

It may be easier to haul it out anyway...

 

rob83ke70 knows those engines well, I'm afraid I'm a K-series man myself. You could always PM him with questions in case he misses your posts.

[rob83ke70]

wouldn't stress too much about the drain in the block, run a hose in the cooling system and flush as much as you can out, doesn't matter that there is water still in the jackets for what you want to do. when you assemble it all, fill it with straight water, and drop it out a few times and refill it after you run it for a bit, until the water comes out clean. Then put a high quality coolant in and you are all set :abuse:

 

I flushed the ae93 about 5 or 6 times, and I used red GM coolant..... I'm told the factory coolant was red, and well I kind of had some leftover GM stuff lying around lol...

 

Robert.