Hello Rangers!

I've been working on my girlfriend's 2000 Ranger XLT (5-speed 3.0L V6), replacing the radiator specifically right now. I bought this aftermarket radiator new, and it's got these two open connections on the right-side (as you look at it installed – but you can see them on that picture on the left-side). I went to a local auto part shop and the dudes there told me they just needed to be plugged, but I couldn't find anything that fit perfectly.

I eventually bought a Radiator Drain ---- (kinda like this one) and it fit after a lot of wrenching. It's a plastic winged fastener with a rubber gasket at the base of the threads, so I think it will do a good job plugging the holes. Today I'm off to grab another one and pop it on to see if coolant doesn't shoot all over the damn place.

I guess I'm mostly confused that the radiator didn't come with plugs in the box. The connections are for the Automatic Transmission Coolant, which I don't have on this truck since its a 5-speed. Seems like 5-speeds would be popular enough to throw the plugs in with the radiator.

Anyway, if anyone's got any advice or warnings about using these plugs, let me know. And if you have a lead on where I can get the plugs that should have come with the rad (you can see them in this pic, they're blue).

Thanks y'all!

 

They should make some type of Closed end threaded insert that will fit the opening. That radiator drain is basically it, just with a wing on it for easy removal. The hardware store should have something of those drain plugs don't work. Just make sure you get a O-ring for the end, otherwise it'll leak.

 

Great! I thought it would work just as well, just wanted to make sure because this is the first radiator job i've done. I actually picked up a box of various O-rings just in case I had to reinforce the gasket that's already on it. Thanks for the input!

 

Only one Oring is needed.

 

So your wanting to plug the tranny cooler holes? You can use just about anything maybe even the right threaded bolt. Or leave them open nothing will come out. Auto trannys have in/out lines that recirculates the trans fluid (oil). It does exactly the same thing as the coolant, but for oil. That being said, inside of the radiator are separate chamber's for coolant and the oil. No oil, no leak.