quick question i am trying to remove my turbo on my 89 t2 and want to drain the coolant so it don't leak everywhere when i get it off i can't get to the underneath side of the radiator to check for a drain plug because there's a plastic undershield do i need to take it off and should i be able to see a drain plug in the radiator

 

Most radiators have a "petcock" (drain) near the lower radiator hose. Feel around for it. You may have to remove the plastic shield. If not, disconnect the lower radiator hose from the radiator slowly. Pull it out so that the top is still on, but the bottom is open. That should eliminate most of the mess.

 

you should be able to just take off the block drain plug and drain it from there, it is located on the driver's side engine mount on the block and is a 14mm diameter long bolt.

 

so its on the driver's side how close to the mount is it is it anywhere near the oil drain plug

 

Look at the bolts for the engine mount, the drain is the odd one.

 

you really only need to remove the lower rad hose if you want to drain enough coolant to replace turbo

 

well i never replaced the coolant since i had it so i figured now would be the time and it's alright to poor a gallon of regular water through the radiator and overflow tank to flush out the system right?

 

yes, you can pour water through the radiator to flush it out, i just wouldn't run the engine with pure water. If you're going through all that trouble, you might as well just buy some radiator flush stuff to clean out some of the scale buildup in the engine.

 

If you are going to do a proper flush, you will need to drain both the radiator and block to remove most of the fluid. Draining from just one source will still leave coolant in the system.

 

ill remember to do that but the panel under neath looks like a pain to get back on

 

My tray has a hole just below the radiator. From the I can access the drain plug without dropping the tray. It's a plastic plug and I believe a phillps screw driver will remove it. Didn't stick my head unerneath to look.

 

alright i drained the radiator and ran water through it until it was pretty clear i looked for the engine block drain plug but couldnt find it can someone get a pic of it and post it for me it would be great or any more detailed instructions as to by the engine mount