lindatr4 Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 As my radiator does not have a drain tap it is my hope to fit one. From the photo attached, I guess that the flat area at the bottom of the radiator is the place for it to go. My questions are... Does anyone have any experience of carrying this out? What tap size & thread should I use after drilling the initial hole? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Hi Linda, Before you start consider how you are going to do this. The skin in that area is very thin and simply drilling a hole and screwing the valve in will not work. I believe you will need to solder a reasonably thick boss onto the skin and then tap that for the valve When soldering the boss be careful not to melt the solder on the lower core seam. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lindatr4 Posted July 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Thank you Roger. As always you are fathomless pit of immense knowledge. Job for the winter months I think. I can then drain the system and renew the coolant at the same time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
monty Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Thank you Roger. As always you are fathomless pit of immense knowledge. Job for the winter months I think. I can then drain the system and renew the coolant at the same time. Just undo the bottom hose! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 +1. Why introduce another potential leak point? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike3md Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 +2, plus it drains the system much quicker! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 +1 for Rogers comments. You would need to drill a clearance hole, then solder the tap in place, not a job for the faint hearted. I would leave it as is. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Hi Folks, removing the bottom hose is quite a simple matter and thus getting around a problem that can grow, However I wonder what it would be like if the system was filled with boiling water Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Or filled with Evans waterless coolant, which is a lot more expensive than conventional anti-freeze! Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Answers to the above two questions: 1. Hot. 2. Waste of money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 The way to drain via the bottom hose when hot is to simply cut it, from above - if you're draining the radiator it's worth changing the hoses at the same time. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Gee.. I dunno... My radiator has a tap, and it's perfect. Easy to open, and easy to catch all the draining coolant in a container for proper disposal. Taking off the lower hose leads to a big mess. I'd never dream of installing one myself, though. As Roger notes, it's gonna need a boss and heat management to protect the lower tank. I'd have a shop do it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Mine has a tap, and yes, it's easy to catch the outflow, partly because it's so slow. The gush of water when the bottom hose is removed or cut through will do a better job of washing out the crud. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 . The gush of water when the bottom hose is removed or cut through will do a better job of washing out the crud. .....and also the boot and two or three nearby cars Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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