How to drain coolant from 07 XR 3.6

[BKbroiler]

Last time under the car I was looking for a drain valve but nothing was very obvious. My 07 is overdue for a change. Has anyone done this?

[golftango]

The drain plug is on the passenger side of the car. You can get away with removing some of the screws on the bottom panel and holding it down with a small screwdriver. This way the whole thing doesn't need to be removed. By GM's instructions a flush by using water is only needed if the coolant is dirty or contaminated. Otherwise a drain and fill is all that needs to be done. It is extremely easy to do too. You can get to the plug from above to unscrew it. It should be a white plug that you only need to unscrew until it starts to drain. After that remove the cap from the surge tank and it will drain quicker.

Be careful with the plug, they can break easily so do not over tighten it. Once it is all drained close it off and fill the surge tank with premixed dexcool till it is about a quarter inch over the mold point in the plastic. Idle the car with the cap off till the thermostat opens a couple times to get the air out of the system. After that top off the system to the same point as before and double check everything.

[theoldsouthern]

Question on refilling the radiator. I actually put in a new one on our 2008 XR 3.6, yesterday, and it took about 1 3/4 gallons of premixed 50/50 Dex. Does that sound about right?

[golftango]

Originally Posted by theoldsouthern

Question on refilling the radiator. I actually put in a new one on our 2008 XR 3.6, yesterday, and it took about 1 3/4 gallons of premixed 50/50 Dex. Does that sound about right?

No.

Looking in my manual:

Cooling System
2.4L L4 Engine 7.5 qt
3.6L V6 Engine 9.7 qt

9.7 qt = 2.425 gallons

[theoldsouthern]

And that was what I was thinking. After I changed out the radiator and water pump, I starting filling the system. I ran it for about 30 minutes (including driving it around for about 10) and that was all it took (filled to line in reservoir). I came back and checked it this morning and it was a little lower, but only a couple of cups. Could it be the weather? It is in the 30s here.

[golftango]

Do you have the heat running too? You have air somewhere in the system and the sloshing you're hearing is the low coolant.

[BKbroiler]

golftango - thanks for the drain & fill info

[mbruneaux]

Originally Posted by theoldsouthern

And that was what I was thinking. After I changed out the radiator and water pump, I starting filling the system. I ran it for about 30 minutes (including driving it around for about 10) and that was all it took (filled to line in reservoir). I came back and checked it this morning and it was a little lower, but only a couple of cups. Could it be the weather? It is in the 30s here.

If you didn't drain the block I don't think it will take 2.5 gallons.

[BKbroiler]

After doing this job, I can add one recommendation - remove the radiator support that the drain passes through. Two bolts and it drops out. The radiator stays in place. This provides total access to the drain valve from below, if you remove the entire panel below the rad, easily done.