How to Repair a Broken Radiator Drain Plug
The radiator on your vehicle contains a large amount of antifreeze and water which is used to cool the engine. If the drain plug breaks, you most likely have a leak that will cause your vehicle to overheat due to the loss in coolant. Fortunately, a broken drain plug on your vehicle's radiator is fairly simple to repair. All you need are a few simple tools and about 15 minutes.
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Things You'll Need
- Replacement radiator plug
- Easy-out bolt extractor
- Hose clamps
- Silicone
- Antifreeze
Instructions
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1
Purchase a new radiator drain plug. You can find one at most local car parts stores, such as AutoZone, or you can buy one from a reputable online source, such as Amazon. Each radiator will have a specific plug that fits it so make sure you buy the right plug for your brand of radiator.
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2
Clamp off the radiator hoses with hose clamps if they are leaking. Radiator hoses are found at the top of the radiator and at the very bottom, usually behind the radiator.
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3
Use a tool called an "easy-out" which can be purchased at most auto parts stores to remove the broken plug from your radiator. This is a bolt remover that allows you to unscrew a broken drain plug that is stuck in the radiator drain.
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4
Insert the new drain plug into the radiator. Screw it in tightly and add silicone around the base to prevent leaks.
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5
Fill up the coolant tank with the appropriate mixture of water and antifreeze, crank the engine and check the plug to make sure there is no more leaking.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit old engine image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com
