Changing coolant at home/spillage

[RCN]

Never had to think about this before because I always had access to a workshop and equipment but since retiring that's changed. I'll need to change the coolant next year and will have to do it on the drive. What do people use/do to drain, catch and prevent spillage? What do you do if you do spill some? Can't imagine the neighbours will be pleased about potential 18l of coolant running down the road towards the sewers. Refilling and bleeding isn't a issue as I'm used to do that bit but any advice appreciated. Cheers.

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[maxstu]

What engine?

For a WBX....

It is impossible to catch it all. Lots of old bath towels and flattened cardboard is the answer.
Release rad bleed and thermostat valve. Remove blue cap. l release pipe attached to either the rad return or feed. It drains two ways, from radiator and from engine. So have a very large container. Then jack up rear to empty all coolant from pipes. Then both cylinders drain screws.

It always ends a bit messy, though.

[tobydog]

Hold your breath everyone, need to change the coolant

[cobblers]

How thorough do you want to be? If you're changing like for like then it's not a big deal if there's a few litres of the old stuff left, in which case I'd just point the van downhill and pop a pipe off the bottom of the radiator.

If you have a wet vac, that'll help massively. Use it to catch any dribbles that are missing your bucket, and then stick it on the end of your coolant pipe and suck any remaining coolant out of the system once it's stopped draining on it's own.

[RCN]

Wet Vac! That's a great idea. Will ask Santa for one

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[cobblers]

I've owned one for years and it wasn't til I saw my mate (a plumber) using one to change a massive cast iron radiator without draining the system over a brand new cream wool carpet that I realised how handy they can be for other stuff. The nozzle on mine is a perfect fit up the rubber hose that goes onto the radiator.