Frozen Water?

[sam jfm 0]

Ok so we had a really cold frost last night! went out to my 205 thats being put together - there is water in the engine and it does have antifreeze in but only 1ltr. its not been run properly so the stat wouldn't have opened and the system was not bled. now the header was frozen up (no antifreeze put in) and the top rad hose was slush but the bottom hose and the one round the back of the engine were still liquid. will the engine be ok? and what are the symptoms if its not?

 

My thinking is that there should be antifreeze in the block and system apart from the top hose and header, where the water would not have been mixed with antifreeze because the stat has not been opened? therefor the engine should be fine?

Edited January 4, 2010 by sam jfm

[dcc 855]

dont try and start it, let the ice melt. cannot see any problems happening, you might split a hose though if you do try and run it.

[Lewis205mi 1]

Ok so we had a really cold frost last night, went out to my 205 thats still being put together. there is water in the engine and it does have antifreeze in but only 1ltr. its not been run properly so the stat wouldn't have opened and the system was not bled, now the header was frozen up and the top rad hose was slush but the bottom hose and the one round the back of the engine were still liquid. will the engine be ok? and what are they symptoms if its not?

 

I wouldnt have thought it would have damaged the engine it usually splits the radiator or coolant hosing, maybe some one will say differently but thats my opinion.

 

 

 

Lewis

[sam jfm 0]

well i have not started it but i was planning on emptying the ice from the top hose and then filling the system fully and then bleeding it? bad idea?

[jimistdt 1]

It sounds like it hasn't mixed as you say, so presumably if if hasn't frozen at the bottom of the engine the water pump will be fine. If you can get some heat to the frozen area either, a powerful bulb or a hair dryer maybe (?), or let the engine run for 5 mins, turn it off check it again and repeat?

Edited January 4, 2010 by jimistdt

[rescue dude 0]

It sounds like it hasn't mixed as you say, so presumably if if hasn't frozen at the bottom of the engine the water pump will be fine. If you can get some heat to the frozen area either, a powerful bulb or a hair dryer maybe (?), or let the engine run for 5 mins, turn it off check it again and repeat?

 

 

What he said.

[dcc 855]

If it has frozen around the water pump, then you are looking at another rebuild. non moving water pump = slipped belt/tensioner failure, = bent valves. personally, go inside and enjoy your warmth until the car is in a condition to start. but hey, do what you want. you could well be there for hours trying to warm the entire engine if you do chose to do that.

[pablo 0]

Put a socket on the crank pulley and try to hand crank it. Soon see if the waterpump is frozen

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Put some more anti freeze in it!

[sam jfm 0]

I will probably leave it alone, i was just worryed about it blowing the head gasket or shoving the core plug out! like some of you have said; the antifreeze has not mixed because ots not been upto full temp so the stat has stayed closed and not circulated that part of the system, where it has in its small loop (bottom of rad to pump through block to stat down small pipe back to pump) it is all un frozen!

 

Im not too fussed about a split hose or a ducked rad, i was just worryed about warping or head gasket damage...

[welshpug 1,661]

leave it alone, get it pushed into a garage if you can, I had this issue a few weeks back as water leaks left me with sod all coolant.

 

parked in a garage overnight and it soon thawed out.

[pablo 0]

I moved mine out of the garage just before the big freeze, with no antifreeze.

 

Currently doing a head gasket swap

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

If you haven't bled it, the air in there could well have done you a favour by allowing some expansion space as it did freeze. As above, I'd leave it alone.

[sam jfm 0]

its undercover ATM, i will cover it in a quilt for the night , like i say i think it will be fine its only the top one thats frozen!

[harryskid 193]

Being a heating engineer when i get frozen pipes i loosen a few joints around and when they thaw it usually takes up the expansion. It just an idea but it might work on a car.

Harryskid

[sam jfm 0]

i would think the rubber hoses would expand before the head?

[welshpug 1,661]

would think the headgasket would pop before the hoses do!

[pablo 0]

can show you a pic of mine, its saturated with water.

[dcc 855]

in russia they light bonfires under trucks before they even think about starting them, because the wax in the oil and diseasle freezes. the same thing will happen to the hoses on your car. rubber being oil based etc...

 

personally, do as you have been advised, leave it alone for the time being. or go start it. who cares.

[sam jfm 0]

ooh please im interested!

 

Am i right in thinking about the tu cooling system works works? RADIATOR---> through bottom hose ---> WATER PUMP ---> through engine waterways ---> THERMOSTAT <><> Two choices ENGINE COLD = through small hose back to WATER PUMP <><> ENGINE HOT = big hose back to RADIATOR ----> repeat?

 

 

On another topic... can you mix different brands of antifreeze? i bought some halfords stuff (that 1ltr i told you about) and my mother has just got me some carplan stuff dispite me saying i wanted halfords stuff!, both 'blue' though i belive.

[sam jfm 0]

in russia they light bonfires under trucks before they even think about starting them, because the wax in the oil and diseasle freezes. the same thing will happen to the hoses on your car. rubber being oil based etc...

 

personally, do as you have been advised, leave it alone for the time being. or go start it. who cares.

 

 

I care! and i am leaving it !

[jimistdt 1]

in russia they light bonfires under trucks before they even think about starting them....the same thing will happen to the hoses on your car. rubber being oil based etc...

 

So, just as Sam goes to get his keys a load of Russians turn up and start burning all his coolant pipes?

 

Now you've got it indoors you've solved the problem, hope it turns out alright for you, although, I think you'd be better to drain all of the old mix out and start again.

[sam jfm 0]

It was undercover last night so it wont have felt the full fury of the frost! i think it will be ok, as those two hoses are liquid (and the top hose is now thawed)

 

I think i will change the whole lot tomorrow (if its warm enough)

 

 

Im off on russian watch.... they like the snow.....