Coolant Drain

[CarbageRun2022]

Hi guys,

Today we did the big service on our Xant, replaced oil, spark plugs and fixed the left window mechanisme and mirror.
The only thing we did not manage was to find the coolant drain plug, it seems to be different than what I saw online.
it should be located on the left down hand side of the Radiator, but we only see this one


We cant get it loose with a normal spanner, you guys have a tip?

[CitroJim]

That's a different one and a new one on me!

A lot of aftermarket Xantia rads dispensed with drain plugs so my usual method was to pop off the bottom hose...

Not applicable in your case but f it's a bayonet hose then I'll disconnect the bottom hose at the other end where it connects to the water manifold at the back of the engine.

Messy but effective... I use a big cat litter tray to catch the coolant - or majority of it!

On my AX it's the only way...

[CarbageRun2022]

That's a different one and a new one on me!

A lot of aftermarket Xantia rads dispensed with drain plugs so my usual method was to pop off the bottom hose...

Not applicable in your case but f it's a bayonet hose then I'll disconnect the bottom hose at the other end where it connects to the water manifold at the back of the engine.

Messy but effective... I use a big cat litter tray to catch the coolant - or majority of it!

On my AX it's the only way...

Thanks for the reply Jim!
What about cutting off this drain plug en just install a new one like this:
https://eurofrance24.com/catalog/produc ... tegory/70/

Would you advice that?

[CitroJim]

I'm really not sure it would fit so I'd not risk it...

[thorter]

A jury rig way to grip things like that nut is to use a length of old timing belt. Best cut to the right length, you fit it double though a short length of square steel tube to produce a loop that goes round the nut, then with the slack removed, clamp at the other for example with a mole wrench. Usually gets a good enough grip to undo without too much distortion of the plastic. Obviously teeth go inward, which also means they lock together where it is clamped.

[CarbageRun2022]

In the end we just unplugged the bottom hose from the radiator.
Was a bit tricky, but managed to get it loose (and back;))

However, there was just 1 liter of coolant coming out? After running the motor we got another 2/3 liters out, but not more.
Is that normal or are we missing something?

[CitroJim]

In the end we just unplugged the bottom hose from the radiator.
Was a bit tricky, but managed to get it loose (and back;))

However, there was just 1 liter of coolant coming out? After running the motor we got another 2/3 liters out, but not more.
Is that normal or are we missing something?

Yes, you need to remove the expansion tank cap to allow a a full drain-down

[CarbageRun2022]

In the end we just unplugged the bottom hose from the radiator.
Was a bit tricky, but managed to get it loose (and back;))

However, there was just 1 liter of coolant coming out? After running the motor we got another 2/3 liters out, but not more.
Is that normal or are we missing something?

Yes, you need to remove the expansion tank cap to allow a a full drain-down

Yeah that's what we did! Still only managed to get 3/4 liters out.

[PaulC5]

The rest of the coolant will still be in the engine block unless it has a drain plug you could undo. The heater matrix might also not drain fully.