Which direction loosens the petcock? I need to drain my radiator and both directions feel super tight!!! I'd hate to bust it off!

 

left loosy, righty tighty...?

clockwise - tighten, counter clockwise - loosen?

unless its left hand threads then its backwards.

 

Almost always lefty loosy, righty tighty. Some steering components are opposite, but 99.99% of the other hardware follows the rule.

 

you'll hardly ever find left-hand threads on anything outside of europe other than some VW, Porsche and Audi vehicles and some specialty fasteners.
My 78 and 81 Scirocco's and my 79 Type II Transporter had left hand lug "bolts" (not nuts) on the passenger's side.

 

I wouldn't touch that thing. Twice now I've had those things go on me. Once stripped once busted. I don't know of a repair kit for em either, turned into a nightmare.
It's a little messier but way safer to just pull off the lower rad hose.....quicker too.

 

I've seen a few japanese alternator and power steering pulley nuts left handed

 

Propane stuff is left-handed threads....

and uh yeah, left lucy, righty tighty.

 

Carefull, i broke one of the tabs off mine two nights ago