Coolant drip/beading??

[sly]

That would be the least wasteful way. Considering how low the pump is already, you'll probably be draining most out to get that low.

[IPreferDIY]

If your coolant is good, then ya, just low enough for whatever you're working on. If your coolant hasn't been done in awhile, and assuming you know you've fixed the problem, might as well do a full flush when you're done.

The way I would do a full flush is:
1. disconnect the upper rad hose from the rad
2. tape some kind of plastic sleeve over the hose and put the other end into a bucket
3. fill the rad or reservoir with distilled water
4. start the engine and let it warm up
5. when the coolant cycles, pour in distilled water (at ~$1 for a gallon jug, might as well get at least four jugs)
6. keep doing that until what comes out looks clear enough for your liking
7. then start adding straight antifreeze until you get to 50/50 (eg. if the entire capacity is four gallons, just add two jugs of straight antifreeze).

[gadget73]

When I had a stock type radiator, I installed and left a short piece of vacuum hose on the tit to make it easier to drain. My current one has a petcock that drains out through the middle of the drain knob. Nothing I can to to minimize that mess.

[sly]

+1 I hate those bastards that drain out the end like that.

[gadget73]

A drain that doesn't suck is a priority on the next radiator. Hopefully, thats a ways off.

[L1011tristar17]

While disassembling the front of the engine to do the timing chain, I noticed that the coolant leak seemed to be coming from the heater hose that connects to the water pump. It might be worth checking out. The hose was hard as a rock and basically disintegrated when removed.

[gadget73]

I'd change both of those hoses while you've got the pump off. Its already half unhooked.

[cld783]

Coolant likes to pool up on the timing cover for some reason. I went to a car show last year and every 302 car i looked at had a puddle in the same spot.

[porschpow]

Im going to look at it today. I have noticed that the bypass hose (elbow hose) was seeping some liquid on the part of the hose where it goes into the water pump. I hope that's the problem!

[slack]

Any update on this?

I get a small pool on the timing cover as well. Water pump, thermostat, hoses are all new. I'm guessing mine might be intake related?

[IPreferDIY]

If your coolant is good, then ya, just low enough for whatever you're working on. If your coolant hasn't been done in awhile, and assuming you know you've fixed the problem, might as well do a full flush when you're done.

The way I would do a full flush is:
1. disconnect the upper rad hose from the rad
2. tape some kind of plastic sleeve over the hose and put the other end into a bucket
3. fill the rad or reservoir with distilled water
4. start the engine and let it warm up
5. when the coolant cycles, pour in distilled water (at ~$1 for a gallon jug, might as well get at least four jugs)
6. keep doing that until what comes out looks clear enough for your liking
7. then start adding straight antifreeze until you get to 50/50 (eg. if the entire capacity is four gallons, just add two jugs of straight antifreeze).

After doing this recently, I noticed there’s a possibility that the antifreeze might mix enough to come out with the water. For the last step, I would suggest shutting off the engine when you’re done with the water, draining two gallons out of the rad drain (easy enough when the car is on a down slope), adding the two gallons of concentrated antifreeze, reconnecting the upper rad hose, and then using more distilled water for topping up.

[gadget73]

I usually use that method myself. The block holds roughly as much as what will come out of the radiator drain, so once the motor is full of water, straight antifreeze in the radiator usually gets you close enough to 50/50 to do the job. If I'm not flushing the engine, then I just use 50/50 (mixed or pre, depending what ends up cheaper) in the radiator. usually buying a gallon of antifreeze and a gallon of distilled wins, but I recently was able to pick up a few gallons of premix for the same as it would have cost me to make my own, so I went that route.

[IPreferDIY]

Around here, the lowest I've seen a jug of pre-mix go for is a couple of bucks less than a jug of concentrate.

[sly]

now that I have a chemical resistant gallon jug for mixers... I don't think I'll ever get 50/50 again except if I'm on the road and need some.

[gadget73]

Around here, the lowest I've seen a jug of pre-mix go for is a couple of bucks less than a jug of concentrate.

The vast majority of the time, its like $2 less for the gallon, which is stupid. The discount store near Scott had a bunch of pre-mix for 7 bucks a gallon tho, and 100% was around $13 at the auto parts store next door. Its the only time I've ever bought premix.