radiator drain plug question

[Lone Watie]

Is the radiator drain plug repairable? Mine opened and closed without a hitch, but closed it now to fill back up and is dripping and can't get it to stop. Thanks.

[mr.mindless]

pull it all the way out and check the o-ring. replace if needed.

[joecool911]

Can't get mine out at all. You're a step ahead of me.

[Lone Watie]

2 new o-rings from Napa and back in business. Unfortunately, my alternator went bad while trying to replace the brushes. don't know what I did but the rotor seized.

[Mopar1973Man]

Question...How did you get it out? I've never bother to try and pull the valve all the way out. So how did you remove it?

[Lone Watie]

I just put some vise grips on it and kept twisting and pulling it counter-clockwise and it came out with all the pieces of old o-ring. It didn't take too much force. I don't know if it made it easier or not, but I pulled the radiator out before figuring out the o-rings were bad while diagnosing the leak. Probably was a good idea, as enabled me to really flush that radiator out and make sure there were no pieces of o-ring left in there.

[joecool911]

Yeah, I was pulling and turning with fears of having the drain plug explode and then where am I at? So I just pulled the lower radiator hose.

[Lone Watie]

My lower hose is not at the very bottom of the tank so was concerned about not getting all the old stuff out. My valve actually turned quite easily. It was when I refilled I noticed the dripping coming from the disintegrated o-ring. I have to confess that in the 14 years since I've had the truck I haven't ever flushed it, so it was imperative to get all the stuff out. It took me about 3 quick drives with water in it to flush it out nice and good. All is good now. I replaced my water pump and t-stat as well, which was very painless. I didn't even cuss this time when putting that serp belt back on. I had nothing to lose when I noticed the drip from the drain, and figured if I couldn't get the valve out, I would be out a radiator anyway, so pulled and twisted until she came out. 2$ at napa for a couple o-rings and she's all good. The alternator didn't fare so well, though. I was trying to change the bearings (bosch) and somehow in my process I froze up the rotor.