I'd like to change my engine coolant without pulling the hoses off of the engine and making a mess in my garage. The drain valve on the radiator is painfully out of reach. Is there a trick to getting at it or should I just get a kiddie pool under the truck and yank the hoses off?

 

Get yourself a hand pump and pump the coolant out from the radiator.

 

Good idea. As a matter of fact, I think I'll just siphon it out with a hose. Thanks.

 

The stock radiator uses a weird drain...that requires a 1/4" socket. If it's a replacement radiator it could be the regular pitcock type. To do a full change requires draining the engine block by removing the drain bolts. It's usually too much trouble for me so I flush the system, drain what I can, add a gallon of 100% coolant then if needed add a bit more water while burping. Just draining and filling the radiator leaves dirty coolant in the block. Here's a picture Swartlkk posted with the drain bolts circled. I never new they existed before I joined here...I learn so much just reading about everyone's problems.

 

I'll drain the radiator with the hand pump every 2 years or so, this way there is less dirty coolant that can stay behind.

Also, on my 2000 Blazer the opening for the radiator is very small on the cap side due to the trans cooler in the radiator. You'll need to use a small diameter tubing to drain the radiator with the pump method.

 

I've got a little pump that's for pulling oil out of my boat motor but it's automotive use has been limited to pulling brake fluid. Maybe I'll give it a try with my radiator but since the draw hose is only 1/4" it might get plugged pretty quick.