Jeep Cherokee Radiator Question

[Ken Scharabok]

Friend pulled into yard yesterday with a hot engine. Thought it was thermstat so borrowed my pickup to go to town for one. When refilling radiator it was noticed water was coming out on the passenger side. Search revealed it was coming out of a nipple-type plug. No loose hose around it. When the plug was taken off it looked like another nipple on the inside had broken off, allowing a free-flow of water through whatever this is. We put a screw in the nipple to the outside and he proceeded hom. Any thoughts on what this nipple thingy is?

[Cabin Fever]

Probably a drain valve....which I suppose a broken one might look like a short nipple within a nipple. If it was a drain valve, the inside "nipple" would of originally of had "wings" in it that are truned to open and close the valve.

[sugarbush]

On the right lower side is the drain cock, but on a Cherokee you cannot get to it without removing the grill? How can you see what it looks like? maybe the older ones are different , but mine is plastic and looks like an elbow with a flat wing on the end.

[ericjeeper]

I have a 1992 cherokee. One day up in Indy I left a stop light and the tires broke loose.. I looked back and saw a puddle of antifreeze., I was not sure if the trail of fluid was actually mine so I swerved and looked back the trail swerved too. Ok I am a block from the jobsite. I parked down the street a bit as to leave the remaining puddle not in from of my customers business. I did my job came back out , went across the street and bought a half dozen eggs. and a chep jug for water. Ok I pour water in, started it let it run and kept adding water.. Then cracked open the six eggs and dumped them into the warm radiator. well water was still running out.. so I kept adding water. well Low and behold the drain lug in the front lower corner had evidently broken off..All that was sticking out was a stub with no guts.. So I cut a piece of hose off of the return line and shoved a stick into one end and the other onto the stub. Been like that for 3 years now.. except I drained the water and added antifreeze. I never noticed any scrambled eggs so they must be glued firmly in place inside the cooling cavity somewheres.

[Ken Scharabok]

He stopped by this AM. Radiator shop confirmed it was the drain valve. Apparently there was a stopper inside, a stem through the center and wing-nut type arrangement on outside. When inside broke off it spit off the wing-nut.

He had the shop order the part, but said our bolt inside would likely last indefinitely. Would just make draining radiator a bit more work.

[Jim S.]

Tell him to save his money and use the bolt! Won't hurt a thing.