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antifreeze engine block drain plugs

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i'm trying to drain my antifreeze and it looks like at one of the engine block drain plugs there is some sort of electrical doodad.  i haven't a clue what this is and was hoping someone could shed some light on this and possibly let me know what needs to happen to get that bad boy out.

year, model?

 

maybe post a pic or better description of the location of the item.

 

most people would just use the drain at the bottom corner of the radiator.

Edited by 1 Lucky Texan

  • Author

year, model?

 

maybe post a pic or better description of the location of the item.

 

most people would just use the drain at the bottom corner of the radiator.

96 legacy outback, i did use the one on the radiator but it didn't give me a full flush and the haynes manual is telling me first do the radiator then do the engine block drain plugs.  it mentions nothing about the electrical item.  one is right behind the oil filter and the other is on the other side of the oil pan

Sounds like a cheap block heater. They go in place of one of the freeze plugs

Leave the block heater in. Probably oem.

A hose tee in the heater line has always worked for me.

Have never seen the need to remove a freeze plug just to drain the system, on any engine.

 

O.

Subaru hasn't put actual freeze plugs into any of their engines since the EA82 back in '93. 

 

Emily

I am not sure on a Subaru but on my truck a 96 Ford diesel I couldn't pull the block drains without removing the engine.  So all I do is to remove the thermostat then flush everything with a hose and a T into the heater lines.  I then drain as much as I can out of the lower radiator hose.  I'll then fill and drain the coolant system 4 or 5 times with plain distilled water and then drain that.  Then instead of using a 50/50 mix I'll fill the radiator with the correct amount of antifreeze for the system and then top it off with distilled water. 

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