drain plug size?
 

ok I thought I fixed my cooling problems until my drain plug on the radiator started leaking. does anyone know what size it is? will the wing tips work or stop it from going in all the way? does it have to be mazda like all the other cooling parts? I think my car's better, just now it overheats a little cause of the plug I think. (I hope!) thanks for any help.

Well, it all depends. If you have a stock radiator, there is probably a plug that can only taken out of with a phillips screwdriver. If that's yours, I don't understand why you're drain plug would be leaking. That plug is plastic and the radiator is plastic. I don't how you would crossthread it. A simple way to do is, maybe go to the junkyard and grab it for like a 1 dollar. The best way to do is to pressure up the cooling system and see where else its leaking. Get a coolant pressure tester and do that first. You can probably rent one cheap or borrow someones. Also, DO NOT let that engine overheat or be prepared for an ass raping of a lifetime.

well basically I know it's leaking from there cause after driving (20 miles or so) there is a little puddle of coolant coming from right under the drain plug. I assume it's the o-ring but I strippes the phillips head... the bit was too small. I can get it out, but I just need a new one. if I cross threaded the plug I'd be amazed. but I'll try a junk yard. thanks.

The radiator drain plug is the same size as the radiator bleeder plug, and they are interchangeable. Yes, you can replace the crummy screwdriver type with the better wing tip type. You can get them from the Mazda dealership, so you could either pay a lot for the convenience of getting one now, or you could just ask to look at the part so you will know the size when shopping elsewhere for the part. Mazdatrix also sells them for about $10, but I don't know if it is the screwdriver type or wing tip type. The aftermarket plugs should work fine, but I don't know the size. The thermostat is the critical component that you always want to buy exclusively from Mazda.