It says in the book to drain it partially but I've heard that you don't ahve to drain at all. Is this true? or do you have to drain some?

You should drain it some. Other wise you'll have a good bit of coolant shooting all over, I'ts not a good smell to burn that off. Also, If your engine is clean burnt coolant leaves an obvious trail, If you spill coolant now you may be hindering your dianostic work later.

I removed mine and slurped out the remainder with a shop vac. I only had to remove about 1\2 gallon or so to keep it from coming out.

JLathem

Simply opening the petcock on the radiator into a bucket is a whole lot easier than a shop-vac

Drain it, makes is so much easier and cleaner to do.

Drain it... coolant isnt expensive and its worth a swap... better for your water pump.. you dont want to have to replace that now do you?

I used a shop-vac too. Worked well for me.. it makes easyier to change the tstat with the coolant drained out a little. With my 16 year old car, and the petcock being plastic.. I was afraid i'd break it, so I wasn't even going to stress it.


-justin

It'* too difficult to get at my drain **** so I simply syphon out 1/2 gallon from the rad and then when you remove the T-Stat housing it'* dry as a bone.
No muss, no fuss.
10 min job.