Hi,
I have a '97 F-150 sc with the 4.2 and a 5speed.

Winter is fast approaching and I think it is about time for me to change the antifreeze. How would one go about doing this?

On my previous cars, the radiator always had a drain plug on the bottom and a cap on the top, changing it was as easy as draining out the old stuff (open drain plug) and fill the radiator along with swapping out the stuff in the overfill bottle.

Looking at the truck, I have been unable to find the drain plug an the fill cap..... If I remove the bottom radiator hose, all the anti-freeze will drain out, but how would I go about re-filling the system?




TIA
Jon.

 

I assume your setup is similiar to the 5.4's big radiator. You should have a container in the engine compartment that is mounted on a fender. That is where your cap is now and where you will fill the system. It should be labeled as such. You also should have a drain valve on the right side of the radiator at the bottom. It probably is plastic and not like the old metal ones.

What is basically your overflow container, is where you will fill it up now.

 

I seem to remember a drain in the block as well. (I also have the 4.2) I drained everything then filled with water and idled for a few minutes to open the thermostat and circulate thru the block. Then, drained again. Then added antifreeze / water to fill at 50:50 mix.