Do you need to drain the coolant when removing cylinder heads?

In most vehicles, yes, you need to drain the coolant system before removing the cylinder heads. The coolant circulates through the cylinder heads, so draining the coolant will help prevent it from leaking out and causing a mess when you remove the heads.

In some vehicles, it may be possible to remove the cylinder heads without draining the coolant. However, this can be a messy and time-consuming process, and there is a risk that you could damage the engine if not done properly. Therefore, it is generally recommended to drain the coolant before removing the cylinder heads.

To drain the coolant, you will need to locate the radiator drain plug or petcock and open it. The drain plug is usually located at the bottom of the radiator. You may need to use a wrench to open it. Once the drain plug is open, the coolant will begin to drain out of the radiator. Allow all of the coolant to drain out before closing the drain plug.