Coolant--engine block drain plug

Hello all. Zach here, '01 4wd 4-door Tacoma.

So, my Haynes Manual makes note of draining the coolant from the engine block drain plug during a coolant replacement. I don't know if this has ever been done on my truck before, in the one or two times the coolant has been changed. (This will be the first time I've replaced the coolant at home. The need to do so has arisen in conjunction with resealing the water bypass pipe. That thread is in the 1st Gen folder.)

I think I could envision problems with removing that plug (which at the current moment, I don't even know where is, although Haynes describes the location.)

Yea or nay on "really" getting all the old coolant out by removing the engine block drain plug?

 

If your old coolant is contaminated in some way then yes pull the drains. If you are just freshening it up you should be fine to leave it. Unless a coolant passage is blocked all of the coolant in the radiator, heater core, and block is circulated throughout.

 

I did it on mine, drain from both engine block and radiator. There is no problem with only draining from radiator, it gets most of it out but not everything.

 

Yeah, I guess I'll do it, just to be thorough.

 

Just a suggestion I would get one of these if I were you, there are cheaper ones if you want but basically a funnel that with a radiator attachment and a plunger, you just hook up the funnel and fill it and you dont have to pay as much attention while your getting the air bubbles out the system, when done close the funnel via the plunger and put the extra back in the coolant jug.

$25 OEMTOOLS No-Spill Coolant Funnel Kit, 15 Piece Fluid and Oil Funnel Set, Allows Access To Hard-To-Reach Radiators

https://www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-87009-No-Spill-Coolant-Filling/dp/B01A2CQSU6

 

That does look handy.

 

Well, I ended up not doing it--couldn't find the plug. Is it one plug or two? I found what appeared to be a plug on the side of each head, protruding horizontally; I didn't disturb them, though.

 

Ive got a 2nd gen so mines different but my haynes manual had a picture that i was able to figure out, mine only has 1 engine drain for coolant.

 

I drained my block the last time. All you have to do is look around on the block and if you see a "plug" of something that looks like a drain just open it and see what comes out. That's how I found my drain. I have a 2.7. If I remember correctly it was in the passenger side of the block. Generally, if there is something screwed into the block and there is no apparent reason for it, it's probably a drain.

 

Yeah, I probably just didn't look low enough.

 

Somebody know where is the lowest drain point for a 3.5l engine?