I'm going to remove expansion tank cap, radiator filler plug then pull off bottom radiator hose.
Let system drain.
Then I'll remove the thermostat housing, see if more drains out.
Does anyone remove the coolant drain plugs from the block when exchanging coolant?
I've remove the plugs on a disco 4.0 before but that was for a HG job. Any reason to remove them for coolant exchange?
What's the best way to get as much old juice out to put new juice in?

 

Instead of pulling the plugs, I used a leaf blower.
I removed the thermostat, reattached the housing and hose, then blasted with the blower.
And my old thermo and the inside of the hoses had a little bit of black residue. Not sure what that's all about... Hopefully it's not a sign of a leak in the radiator. Anyone care to try to ID that residue on my thermostat?

 

Leaf blower or reversed shop vac is a great idea. Could be stop leak or galvanic corrosion between the aluminum block and brass radiator.

I use a hand fluid pump to remove as much coolant from the radiator as possible first.

 

I back flushed my radiator with a garden hose to make sure I got all the coolant out. If you really want to get all the coolant out take the radiator out and set it on the side with the pipes coming out of it. (passenger side) Let it sit for a few hours and more will come out.

 

I flushed the block (through therm housing) and the rad (through top hose inlet) a lot with the garden hose.
Now I have an air blockage to work out. The engine temp climbed to 200 running in the driveway, cold top hose.

The blower worked pretty well. Water blasted out of the bottom hose when I hooked it up to the top hose.

 

Got rid of that air pocket like a boss.
Filled expansion tank to full.
Heat on high.
Held RPMs at 2500.
Watched temp on ultra gauge climb; 190, 195, 205, 215... then *bam* hot air from heat vents, temps dropped to 185 instantly.
Idling in the driveway the temp parked and sat at 195.
Wish I had that 180 t stat but I'll get one next time.

I used 1.8 gallons of distilled water. (0.2 in my belly, 100 degrees out today)
1 gallon of coolant.
1 bottle of water wetter.
Pretty close to the 23.9 pints the fsm calls for.

 

That's nearly identical to my recipe. I bought a baby plastic pool to drain into, best $20 I ever spent

 

If I'm just doing a drain and fill I remove lower hose, go inside and eat lunch.
Replace lower hose, refill, bleed and go.
If I'm replacing the t-stat with drain and fill I also back flush the radiator and block with the garden hose.
If I'm just replacing the t-stat I just remove the t-stat, let drain out what drains out and put it back together, refill and bleed.

 

From what I am reading the BLEED is the most important part. I need to try it your way on MJ, maybe that is the missing 10 deg I need for me to be happy with it.
Thanks

 

One side of my brain knew it would work. The other side was waiting for it to hit 250 degrees and blow like old faithful.