What are your tricks to accomplishing this?

Thanks

 

If you are talking about COMPLETELY draining thre block then I doubt there is any clean way. I just pull the knock sensor and then hose it off.

 

There is a drain plug on the other side ,across from the knock sensor.Drain both of these and your radiator and you are good to go.

 

Well not completely. Just enough to change a water pump.

 

If you are just doing the WP,drain the radiator...You will still get some out the bottom bolt on the pump,have rags handy.

 

i've done it 4-5 times and i always make a mess. It angers me.

 

I've done it about 4-5 times as well and there is never a clean way to do it. Always get a mess no matter what I do.

 

Get the biggest drip pan you can find, and put one of those cookie sheets under it, and keep a mop and plenty of fresh water handy. I like to drain the radiator firstm then the drain plug on the one side of the block and the KS on the other.

Pete

 

Me too . When you do the WP its defies logic - each hose or bolt removed seems to produce more coolant .

I had read about removing the knock sensor - but after 11 years and 96K miles - shouldn't I be nervous that the threads are going to get screwed up? ...if I can remove it at all.

Has anyone had problems removing or reinstalling it?

 

I drain the radiator and then just let it drain out of the bottom bolt holes in the water pump....I doubt there is a clean way to do it.