Question? Does the Ford 3.0 V6, have a block drain, to drain the coolant directly out of the block, as with some other V8s I've worked on in the past? (Namely, 60s & 70s era small block and big block (383, 400, Hemi, 440) Chrysler Products). We just flushed the cooling system in my son's 1974 Dodge Dart (318), and the block had familier brass pet*****, for quick and easy draining, along with the Prestone flushing "T" in the heater hose. My son Kris asked me if my Aerostar had that block drain, and I replied:"Good question. I can find out from my fellow Aerostar friends"... Thanks all...ED

 

To my knowledge there is no drain on the engine block. The radiator has a drain, but not the engine.

Ron
(92 3.0L 2WD extended)

 

Ed:

I recall that the 4.0L doesn't have block drains. However, the 3.0L does have one on each side of the block. These are recessed plugs that must be opened with an Allen wrench. Very hard to get to, usually rusted solid to the block, almost impossible to remove, totally worthless anyways.

When I rebuilt the 3.0L engine, I had to drill a hole on these things and used a screw extractor to get them out. Then I replaced them with brass plugs (1/4" pipe plug I think) just so I can drain the block and refill every two years.

 

Looks like maybe 3/8" pipe, but my eye isn't so good at pipe sizes.

This is an '89 3.0l:


Regards,
Al S.

 

Either 3/8" pipe or 1/4" pipe, I forgot which.

 

AL, Copper, Thank You. Man, the photos you have submitted (AL) have been excellent! The photo itself, saves a 1 page text description. However, I think now, it might pose more problems (leaks, coolant drips) than what it is worth, especially considering the age of my Aerostar. If the van was still 2-3 years old, fine. I'll keep it in mind, and I thank both of you for your responses. Both of you, in my opinion, are very knowledgeable concerning our Aerostars..., Ron too. Ed

 

Ed, Al and Cooper,

That's what I like about this forum,...you're constantly learning new things about your Aero from very knowledgeable people who really want to help. I'll be checking my 92 3.0L tomorrow, but I'd never have even thought of block drain plugs without your question, Ed, or Al and Cooper's replies.

Thanks to all.

Ron

 

Al:

Are you rebuilding your engine? I can see a familiar engine stand adapter on the last picture

 

Man when I think of a coolant block drain I thought of a 1/2 or 1/4 plug like the one on the oil pan I would have never looked for something that small thanks. Copper is right though my Aero is a 96 and I'm sure if I tried loosening it I would probably just snap the head off the screw.

I already have a backflush kit (garden hose adapter) spliced on my heater core hose anyways. But still good to know .

 

I've got an eBay $75 Ricoh 5100 (new, it was $700). It's got lot of design idiosyncrasies, but I've owned a 5000 before it was stolen, so I've got years of experience with this odd camera, and other than sometimes shifting the color toward blue in daylight/toward red at night, it takes quite decent shots. You don't have to spend a fortune, and it's very handy to be able to post a pic of what you're describing.

Green coolant (silicate corrosion inhibitors) should be changed every two years -- the glycol prevents freezing for a lot longer than that, but the silicates degrade and they're your only corrosion inhibitors. The Aerostar is very prone to corrosion (heater core, radiator, freeze plugs):



If you change the coolant every two years, you don't need a block drain; you won't have solids that can't be flushed out in the normal fashion.

Regards,
Al S.