2005 Tahoe coolant flush impossible

[PNWYukon]

Has anyone else found this on their rig?

I am going to do a coolant flush and what do you know I have no drain plug or drain hose. The outlet is there and even the loop on the side of the radiator is there for storing the drain hose. WTF.

Anyone have any good ideas about how to proceed?

 

[OneofFew]

LOL wow. I guess you will have to pull a radiator hose off, maybe a heater hose too, in order to flush it.

 

[Rocket Man]

They did away with the drain petcocks in 2003 I believe. Just pull the lower radiator hose. It’s faster anyway, just more messy but the petcocks didn’t direct the coolant anywhere that was a straight shot down, it hit stuff on the way and made a mess regardless.

 

[Doubeleive]

They did away with the drain petcocks in 2003 I believe. Just pull the lower radiator hose. It’s faster anyway, just more messy but the petcocks didn’t direct the coolant anywhere that was a straight shot down, it hit stuff on the way and made a mess regardless.

there was a hose that fits on the petcock outlet and then tucked up into the hole on the side of the radiator, when you wanted to drain it you pulled the hose down and pointed it at a bucket then opened the drain, my 2012 radiator has the petcock and I added the hose back, but it's a aftermarket radiator from 1800radiator.

 

[Rocket Man]

there was a hose that fits on the petcock outlet and then tucked up into the hole on the side of the radiator, when you wanted to drain it you pulled the hose down and pointed it at a bucket then opened the drain, my 2012 radiator has the petcock and I added the hose back, but it's a aftermarket radiator from 1800radiator.

I bought a new a ACDelco radiator for my 02 and no petcock. The old one had one. I don’t miss it. I just pop off the lower hose, then hose everything down good afterwards.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Want to flush your coolant out your radiator real quickly, and then replace it with new coolant? Just let one of your heater hoses blow out.

 

[89Suburban]

Want to flush your coolant out your radiator real quickly, and then replace it with new coolant? Just let one of your heater hoses blow out.

Yeah more like one of those ******* plastic tee fittings on the firewall.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Yeah more like one of those ******* plastic tee fittings on the firewall.

For me, it was the hose itself. It ripped off completely, just at the end of the quick disconnect, connecting to one of the Tees. But, at the strong recommendation of the folks here, I replaced the Tees, as well. This Forum does have value.

 

[89Suburban]

For me, it was the hose itself. It ripped off completely, just at the end of the quick disconnect, connecting to one of the Tees. But, at the strong recommendation of the folks here, I replaced the Tees, as well. This Forum does have value.

Yup! Right where mine broke driving through a ghetto towing the boat in a rainstorm at 9 oclock at night. Loads of fun.

 

[datbluegurl]

I'm in a 2003, have the petcock but no hose near it. Planned on changing out my water pump this morning but now I'm stuck.
View attachment 259261

 

[Rocket Man]

I'm in a 2003, have the petcock but no hose near it. Planned on changing out my water pump this morning but now I'm stuck.
View attachment 259261

Pull the lower hose off the radiator. What’s the issue?

 

[datbluegurl]

Pull the lower hose off the radiator. What’s the issue?

Yea wanted to avoid the mess..

 

[PNWYukon]

I'm in a 2003, have the petcock but no hose near it. Planned on changing out my water pump this morning but now I'm stuck.
View attachment 259261

You pic didn't load. If you have the openable petcock then you are good to go. Get a 2ft piece of clear tubing from hardware store and you are on easy street.

 

[datbluegurl]

You pic didn't load. If you have the openable petcock then you are good to go. Get a 2ft piece of clear tubing from hardware store and you are on easy street.

Thanks for the support, I've watched so many videos etc wanting to learn how to wrench my own vehicles. This is by far the "scariest" project for me so far.

I uploaded the photo again, not sure why it didn't work before.

Is there another thread/pics of someone who has used the clear tubing method? Just want to make sure I buy and use the same process.

Thanks again
Marissa

 

[datbluegurl]

Nevermind I figured it out lol gotta hit the hardware store. My arms are beat trying to figure this out. I can see why there are very few female mechanics.. extra body parts don't help in small awkward positions

 

[ks03]

Even if you have a functioning petcock of the radiator, I don’t think it’s worth touching when you’re doing a water pump. If you were to try to use it, the thermostat virtually stops coolant from draining from the engine to the radiator and you would find plenty more coolant after the radiator drain stoped running.
My method for dumping coolant / minimizing the mess when doing a water pump was putting the catch pan under the heater hose end of the pump. removing surge tank cap to release any pressure, reinstall cap - creates vacuum as coolant dumps and slows flow. Remove one of the heater hoses from the water pump, seems like the one to the back is easier to take off first, at least with factory clamps. Once that seems to slow down, pull the cap again, and upper rad hose. Then pull the remaining heater hose. Once that stops pull the catch pan out a bit infront of the pump, pull the lower hose, and then take the lower hose and bend it down to empty the radiator. Move the catch pan under the pump to catch the remaining coolant that will come out between the block and the pump.
Draining the radiator first will reduce how much coolant you could potentially make a mess with, but you’ll still be trying to catch it from all of these places

 

[PNWYukon]

Nevermind I figured it out lol gotta hit the hardware store. My arms are beat trying to figure this out. I can see why there are very few female mechanics.. extra body parts don't help in small awkward positions

If you are wanting to flush your radiator fluid while changing your water pump, you could always get a siphon pump to make it infinitely easier that messing with that petcock.

These Tahoe bays are very tight and difficult to maneuver for anyone. A million ways to slice yourself also.