TR6 TR6 block drain

[TR6oldtimer]

I have a '73, on the right side of the engine, where the petcock was located on earlier models, mine had a plug. OK "I tells me self", no big deal, take it out and get a petcock. Not so quick, there was not a hole to be found into the water jacket behind that plug, just metal.

When did this change occur, or is something else going on? I know the TR250 had the drain.

Oh, the ugliest thing to watch is 22 year old oil ooze out of the pan.

 

[charlie74]

my 74 has a drain (for coolant) above the starter. just a bolt type plug, though.

 

[TR3driver]

Most likely there IS a hole, it's just plugged with sediment and flakes of rust. Very common on these older engines, especially if it hasn't been properly cared for with coolant changes every few years (even when not driven).

I've used lots of things to open it up, most recently a drill bit (turned only with my fingers) on the project TR3. On one of the Stags, I spent what seemed like hours digging in those holes (2 of them on a Stag V8) with dental picks and so on, before I finally struck coolant.

 

[Gliderman8]

I have to agree with Randall... My '73 has the petcock and I have to believe that even without the petcock, you should have access to the water jacket once you remove the plug.
Probe gently in the hole for crud. Is it possible that the block does not have any water in it?

 

[Andrew Mace]

Probe gently in the hole for crud. Is it possible that the block does not have any water in it?

Elliot, I know what you're saying, but this sounds to me like it's well past the time to be gentle (I think "22-year-old oil oozing out..." was my clue)! Over the years, I've become convinced that a good 50% of overheating problems on these cars is caused by block coolant passages filling up with crud due to lack of regular flushing. And that crud really can pack in there over time.

So probe away, fiercely if necessary; you'll break through the crud eventually! :hammer:

 

[Brosky]

It was amazing how much bigger, deeper and wider that hole was after two acid tank dips. As a matter of fact, all of the passages were bigger and my system was pretty clean, as old engines go.

 

[DNK]

Funny,That's what my Proctologist said.

 

[tdskip]

Don't make a joke Tom, don't make a joke.... don't go there...

LOL Don.

 

[TR3driver]

Over the years, I've become convinced that a good 50% of overheating problems on these cars is caused by block coolant passages filling up with crud due to lack of regular flushing. And that crud really can pack in there over time.

In addition, the crud frequently turns dark so it can look like cast iron. I think it's actually turning back into iron ore rock (hematite)! For sure it's not the fluffy, powdery stuff we think of as "rust".

 

[Brosky]

You may have noticed that I've avoided this (FDon) since I set myself up.

 

[TR6oldtimer]

Well, it was a blockage, that with a bit of prodding came clear. The stuff was not black but brown. What prompted my question was the back of the bronze plug was shiny metal as if never having seen water.

So on ward and upward.

 

[Brosky]

Ray, it probably didn't see water.

That's one good use of a digital pyrometer. You can pickup hot spots on a block or radiator and compare it after a major flushing.