Draining water out of FE block

[blykins]

I was reading a post on the FE forum about a guy that had water freeze in his block and cause problems.

I got to thinking...after I brought my engine home from the dyno (where they used 100% water for coolant), I removed the drain plug on each side of the block and let it all drain out. There wasn't much left, but it trickled out.

With temps in the freezing range around here, do you think I'm in good shape? I think the drain plugs are pretty close to the bottom of the water jackets, so what all was in there should have came out.

Any issues with storing the engine like this?

[Woodz428]

If there is any water left after draining as you indicated, it would be minimal and couldn't create enough ice to cause any problems. If you are concerned, you could open them again and use some air to clear any remaining water, but I think it's unneccesary.

[byron w]

Brent,

I think you are ok as well. I would leave the drains cracked open so if there is any water in the actual drain it can expand.

Later gator,
Byron

[olddog]

If you want to be certain, pour some 50/50 antifreeze/water in and then drain the mixture out.

I do not know how low the drain plugs are on a FE, but years ago a friend who pulled the drain plugs on a car that set through the winter, it did freeze and break. That particular engine had the drain plugs part way up the water jacket.

I had a tiny amount of water leak into the oil in the lower unit on a boat engine, and it froze and cracked the case. It hadn't occured to me that I should drain the oil.

[Burgs]

Can anyone post a picture showing where the drain plugs are on the FE? I'm good with anti freeze for now, but I should know where they are for future reference.

Thanks

[blykins]

Byron, I left the plugs out. They're pretty low....a little lower than the core plugs. I would think Ford's engineers would have been bright enough to put the drain plugs at the lowest level.

[blykins]

Burgs, you can see the drain plug in this picture....look to the left of the middle core plug.

[Burgs]

Thank You!

[FFR428]

Some of the older blocks had petcocks there to drain them.

G.

[Loadco]

Just a suggestion. If you leave the plugs out the threads in the block may rust away. I'd put them back in.

[ERA Chas]

Radiator petcocks work great and fit perfectly. Didn't know older blocks came with them.

[speed220mph]

blykins: Here's a shot of my side-oiler block with a petcock installed in place of the drain plug at the bottom of the left bank just to the rear of center. Another will be on the right bank in a similar location.