Block heater burnt up. Need to drain coolant ??

[Problem Child]

Last night about 10 minutes after I plugged in the coolant heater in the freeze plug,my son came in and told me my Suburban was sparking. Well of course no one has one here in Mississippi so I had to order one and it should be here in the morning.

Anyway....the coolant drain-cock is stuck and the little ears are broke off too, so I need to drain my coolant and be ready to reinstall my heater when it comes in. I'm guessing my best option is to pull the lower radiator hose at the radiator and hopefully save most of my coolant by catching it in a 5 gallon bucket.

Is this the best route or should I just remove the old block heater and replace what coolant I lose ?? Thanks

 

[NVW]

Pull the block heater cord off and ohm it out, the cord is usually the problem.

 

[Problem Child]

Pull the block heater cord off and ohm it out, the cord is usually the problem.

But it's dripping antifreeze from the cord since last night. Could it still be the cord??

 

[NVW]

Sounds like the heater is corroded and leaking, then shorted out the cord. Looks like a new block heater is in your future.

If you had a large catch pan you could maybe catch the coolant when you take out the heater.

 

[WarWagon]

You don't need to drain the coolant. Removing the block heater will do a good job of that for you! :hihi:

I would not reuse coolant that let the block heater rust through. You will be taking a coolant bath anyway even if you drained the system...

 

[Problem Child]

Well, I disconnected the hose from the plastic overflow tank and stuck it in a 5 gallon bucket. This saved about two gallons of coolant which I plan on reusing.

Then I loosened the heater and let it drain into another bucket. I got about another gallon out and I dumped that.

After it quit dripping, I started trying to remove the heater.After getting every screw driver,crowbar and pliers that I own,I finally got the little turd out.

I cleaned up the best I could and hopefully my new heater will be here tomorrow.

Thanks guys.

 

[3500GMC]

I wouldn't use any sealants or greases upon re-install. The o-ring will work just fine by itself. Maybe a lil soapy water..

 

[bison]

Make sure you scrape the bore nice and clean and shine it up with some emery cloth,..a drop of oil on the ring and in the bore to make the new heater slide in won't hurt, i would put a drop of oil on screw's o ring as well,.I've had them escape from the side of the screw before when the ring is dry.

 

[Jorge6.5]

Be careful to not over tighten the small screw when you install the new one, it can strip easily if over torqued.