atikovi
Well-known member
Phillips and straight screw driver slips out. Drag link socket too thick. There must be a specific tool for this.
Is there a special socket tool for this GM radiator drain plug?
- Thread starter atikovi
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Phillips and straight screw driver slips out. Drag link socket too thick. There must be a specific tool for this.
paulsomlo
Well-known member
Try a quarter.
That looks like the one on my Hyundai. Put a short length of flat stock in a pair of vise grips. I just used a big screw driver. It should not be that tight. It is just plastic.
Phillips and straight screw driver slips out. Drag link socket too thick. There must be a specific tool for this.
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It's deep into the radiator tank, quarter wont fit.
Sure, I can cobble together something but the head is almost gone even for that. It IS tight. Plus to loosen it out you have to press in hard so as not to strip out the head. Can't believe there isn't a specific tool made for this.
the gypsy
Well-known member
I am thinking, if you can find a Philip screwdriver with the shank made like a cross, I would cut off the tip. Now you have the proper screwdriver. This is my opinion as I have the screwdriver but have not tried it as I don't need it. When I encounter this problem this will be my go to solution.
thesilverone
Well-known member
ground down a chisel to size?
I can tell you from mine, it is a lot bigger that the widest part of a #2 phillips head but it might be worth a shot.
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I don't think it is usually stuck that badly. I think the cross thread is just to give you two places to put a big flat blade screw driver. Mine was accessed through a hole in a cross brace.
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jonti48310
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I always use a stubby #2 Phillips.
Bellaireroad
Well-known member
Phillips and straight screw driver slips out. Drag link socket too thick. There must be a specific tool for this.
Snap on makes a carburetor socket, Not sure how big your plug is. Search for snap on carburetor socket On eBay
scissorman
Well-known member
#3 phillips screwdriver should do the trick.
kctyphoon
Banned
What about a Milwaukee ECX screwdriver or bit set?
Just google Milwaukee ECX and you'll see pics of the bit style..
They are made for the flat/Phillips combo screws on electrical boxes.
It's a flat "x" style tip. The smaller flats keep the large flat head from slipping off the screws.
Just google Milwaukee ECX and you'll see pics of the bit style..
They are made for the flat/Phillips combo screws on electrical boxes.
It's a flat "x" style tip. The smaller flats keep the large flat head from slipping off the screws.
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cdeer001
Well-known member
chris142
Well-known member
Dont mess with it! Pull a hose.
redwrench60
Well-known member
I rarely open radiator drains anymore and many newer vehicles don't even have them anymore. What do you think happens when customers bring their cars to the shop for any repairs or maintenance that requires coolant draining? Nobody will drop their cars off anymore, they all want to wait on it and they start foot tapping and fussing if it takes more than 30 minutes. Their husband said it's just a thermostat and it's a 10 minute job...what's taking so long?
Pull the lower hose and be done.
That's because newer cars have 100,000-150,000 mile coolant changes. I'd rather have a drain pan under the plug and have the hot coolant come out cleanly than pull a hose that is often in a difficult to access location and hot coolant all over my arms and shirt with half of it spilling on the ground. Guess it's just me. I'm never in a hurry to do something quick, I'd rather do it right.
woody 73
Well-known member
I though maybe snap on might have the tool but no such luck:
https://store.snapon.com/RADIATOR-TOOLS-C629126.aspx
https://store.snapon.com/RADIATOR-TOOLS-C629126.aspx
Tool_Junkie
Member
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I would just loosen the lower Rad hose. While removing it you could damage the it, and you may needing a new part or even a new radiator
toolenthusiast
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Strouty
Well-known member
I don't think I have ever seen a radiator drain like you describe, it always ends up hitting something, then running down something else and coming out right next to the drain pan, then I move the drain pan and it comes out another spot just to the other side.
If you could access it from above it wouldn't be too bad, but most of the time I have the car up on ramps and on my back on a creeper. To pull the lower hose off I'd pretty much have to pull it straight back while I'm right under it. Sure, I could maybe move to the side in just the last second, but that never works like you think it will.
WittHay
Well-known member
Reminds me of plastic plugs on pumps and sprayer parts, you try various screwdrivers and then end up using a Vise-grip to remove them.
Snap-on and other company's make 1/4" to 1/2" drive screwdriver bit sockets that would fit that slotted size.
Regarding Strouty's response, has anyone drained coolant in a shop and not got some on the floor?
Snap-on and other company's make 1/4" to 1/2" drive screwdriver bit sockets that would fit that slotted size.
Regarding Strouty's response, has anyone drained coolant in a shop and not got some on the floor?
Ramblin Man
Well-known member
I do not know it will work for sure, as tight as yours seems to be, but I have used these offset screwdrivers on those before. The bigger sized flat blade.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-pc-offset-screwdriver-set/p-00941318000P
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-pc-offset-screwdriver-set/p-00941318000P
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kctyphoon
Banned
Regular style drivers are available with this tip if you wish to try.
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Hilltopmasonry
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My 99 s10 has some nylon wingnut type thing for a drain and of course i spun the head right off it so i had to pop the lower radiator hose...stupid design. Why couldn't they put a bolt like my Toyota Corolla is? Draining the corolla is easy peasy
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
I found this picture. Apparently you can go billet aluminum if you want to.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-parts/billet-aluminum-radiator-drain-plug/013197ecs01a/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-parts/billet-aluminum-radiator-drain-plug/013197ecs01a/
WhiffySpark
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If it's that stuck don't mess with it. Pull the hose off
Movin/on
Well-known member
I reguraly make one off tools for times like yours.
I'd take my O/A torch and bend a screw driver 90` to fashion one.
I'd take my O/A torch and bend a screw driver 90` to fashion one.
mbshop
Well-known member
I'm not sure why folks are mentioning hot coolant. We never messed with stuff like that on hot engines. I'm not going to burn myself for a customer nor did I expect my techs to do that..
wafrederick
Well-known member
I don't even mess with them anymore.If I can get to the block plug,that is where I drain it sometimes if it comes out.I do pull a hose as well
Exactly what I was gonna say
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frearson#Cross That double-slotted cross type is eithre a cross-sloted or a frearson, not a phillips or ecx
snap on makes some marine-plug screwdrivers that are large slotted types in 3/8 and 1/2 if those sizes correspond to your size...thicker than normal ones but not as thick as drag links. SO should work on double slotted head.
Home > hand tools > general hand tools > screwdrivers > special application > marine plug screwdriver >Medium Marine Plug Red Screwdriver
if its a frearson/reed& prince, they make drivers and bits for that, too....
More references
vs
http://www.instructables.com/id/When-a-Phillips-is-not-a-Phillips/
snap on makes some marine-plug screwdrivers that are large slotted types in 3/8 and 1/2 if those sizes correspond to your size...thicker than normal ones but not as thick as drag links. SO should work on double slotted head.
Home > hand tools > general hand tools > screwdrivers > special application > marine plug screwdriver >Medium Marine Plug Red Screwdriver
if its a frearson/reed& prince, they make drivers and bits for that, too....
More references
http://www.instructables.com/id/When-a-Phillips-is-not-a-Phillips/
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DGersic
Well-known member
Yes, several times. With a collection of hoses, funnels, and a big drain pan, it can be done. Of course, I've also had a hot upper hose rupture in my face, which makes quite a mess.
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
Those are true cross-point designs. a/k/a frearson
https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=447#
