Blown head gaskets! Block drain location?

[Whatsupdoe1205]

Hey all I’m new to the forum, I have a 2000 ford ranger 3.0L V6. My headgaskets are bad, and I’m planning to do them myself. Done all the research and it seems pretty straight forward. Gonna have a buddy of mine who’s done his help me too. But the question I have is… on each side of the block there are freeze plugs. The driver side has one next to the oil filter with a hex head (I think might have my left and right switched) screw under the freeze plug, then on the passenger side there’s another freeze plug behind the motor mount which has a square head (again might have em backwards) screw. Are they both coolant block drain screws? Or is one for oil and the other for coolant. The reason I ask is because I have alotttttttt of rust and gunk and want to do a very thorough flush and want to drain the block. If anyone can tell me if those are coolant drain screws or not that would be much appreciated.

 

[fixizin]

Welcome New Guy... you might wanna put the phrases "head gaskets blown" and "block drain plugs" in your title... after all, we're already IN the 'Ford Ranger 3.0' forum, so themz arr wasted chars.

 

[pjtoledo]

yes those are water jacket plugs. they are usually stuck in there real good. heat, swearing, & bleeding work best for removal.
pulling the engine or leaving it in?
you can detach the AC without opening the lines.
the top bell housing bolts can be accessed using a 2 foot long extension and going in over the transmission.

 

[fixizin]

yes those are water jacket plugs...

Cool, I guess there's no similar plugs for OIL, because those channels all gravity-drain back to the oil pan...? #NeverPulledAnEngine

 

[bobbywalter]

i just shop vac the block once i dump the radiator...unless you plan on powerwash flushing it...which is easier to pull the bastards once its out.


420 fo life.....where is that BC?

 

[pjtoledo]

oil plugs are on the ends of the block and line up with the lifters.
you do need to remove those and run a brush all the way front to back.
run brushes up thru the mains too.
I'd have to look but there is probably a plug where the oil comes up from the bottom.
need an oiling route diagram to be sure on that.

full rebuild stuff, not going to do this with the engine still installed.

 

[Whatsupdoe1205]

Welcome New Guy... you might wanna put the phrases "head gaskets blown" and "block drain plugs" in your title... after all, we're already IN the 'Ford Ranger 3.0' forum, so themz arr wasted chars.

Thank you I’ll remember that next time I post

 

[Whatsupdoe1205]

oil plugs are on the ends of the block and line up with the lifters.
you do need to remove those and run a brush all the way front to back.
run brushes up thru the mains too.
I'd have to look but there is probably a plug where the oil comes up from the bottom.
need an oiling route diagram to be sure on that.

full rebuild stuff, not going to do this with the engine still installed.

On the front and back for the block you mean?

 

[Whatsupdoe1205]

yes those are water jacket plugs. they are usually stuck in there real good. heat, swearing, & bleeding work best for removal.
pulling the engine or leaving it in?
you can detach the AC without opening the lines.
the top bell housing bolts can be accessed using a 2 foot long extension and going in over the transmission.

They are?? Awesome, wasn’t sure if both on each side were because I read that some bolts under the freeze plug are actually holding the freeze plug? I’m clueless on that part, I know basic mechanics (I.e. tune ups and water pumps and sorts). I plan to flush the block with thermocure to remove the majority or as much rust and gunk as I can before tearing the heads down.

 

[Whatsupdoe1205]

i just shop vac the block once i dump the radiator...unless you plan on powerwash flushing it...which is easier to pull the bastards once its out.


420 fo life.....where is that BC?

If these weren’t the block drains for coolant I was going to flush water through the thermostat housing until it runs clear out of the lower.

lol, no I didn’t realize what I had typed there my fault. From Florida.

 

[pjtoledo]

2000 3.0
3 in the front, that's the camshaft in the middle.
only 1 I could see in the rear. that is not a freeze plug. it's the camshaft don't-go-out-the-back plug.