frozen engine cooling system
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,457
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From: Grande Prairie, AB
frozen
Alright, Say one morning you go outside to warm up the ol ford eh, then ya come back out about 10 mins later, and you notice water pouring out from the rad.
Interesting, say then you pop the hood, but all you can determin is its either coming out the lower rad hose or the cap, or the rad is cracked, also the temp guage reads just under 210. Its also about -15 out and the ford is not yet equipt with a block heater of any sort.
Turns out it it is frozen, whats left in the rad as i can see the ice about 3inchs below rad-cap.
Weather network says all below zero for the rest of the week, so its not going to thaw on its own.
Whats the best thing a guy should do at this point?
What would you do? lay er on me
Interesting, say then you pop the hood, but all you can determin is its either coming out the lower rad hose or the cap, or the rad is cracked, also the temp guage reads just under 210. Its also about -15 out and the ford is not yet equipt with a block heater of any sort.
Turns out it it is frozen, whats left in the rad as i can see the ice about 3inchs below rad-cap.
Weather network says all below zero for the rest of the week, so its not going to thaw on its own.
Whats the best thing a guy should do at this point?
What would you do? lay er on me
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 632
Likes: 15
From: Fairbanks, Alaska
Get it inside a garage and thaw it out. Once it thaws drain all the water out and fill it with a 60-40 mix of antifreeze. Be sure to check all the freeze plugs in the block for damage as well as the radiator and hoses. If you cannot find a garage to put it in throw a big tarp over the front half of the truck and aim a space heater in from the back under the engine.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 632
Likes: 15
From: Fairbanks, Alaska
The water probably came out of the cap. When an engine gets hot due to no coolant circulation (ice doesn't circulate well) it will normally melt some of the ice in the block and top of the radiator and blow it out the cap just like a overheated engine does when overworked on a hot summer day. The ice will also plug the thermostat and blow coolant out the cap like a stuck thermostat does.
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,457
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From: Grande Prairie, AB
Awesome, thanks for the replies guys,
Ive checked the rad thoroughly and cant see any cracks, so im pretty sure it was forced out the cap.
Im trying to figure out a way to get it to the shop at work, without getting a tow truck. I could drive it there but I dont think thats a great idea, and i see no natural thawing in the forecast. Ill figure something out.
If i put in the lower rad hose heater, that would probably help tihings out a bit too eh? I also have a freeze plug heater, the instructions arent very good, so I havent done that yet either.
thanks again guys.
Ive checked the rad thoroughly and cant see any cracks, so im pretty sure it was forced out the cap.
Im trying to figure out a way to get it to the shop at work, without getting a tow truck. I could drive it there but I dont think thats a great idea, and i see no natural thawing in the forecast. Ill figure something out.
If i put in the lower rad hose heater, that would probably help tihings out a bit too eh? I also have a freeze plug heater, the instructions arent very good, so I havent done that yet either.
thanks again guys.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 632
Likes: 15
From: Fairbanks, Alaska
If it is still below zero and you don't have any antifreeze in it you need to get it in fast. The ice in the block and radiator will continue to swell and keep doing damage. Some damage may have already been done but it is only going to get worse the longer you wait. A tow bill will be much cheaper than a new engine.
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Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 0
From: Grande Prairie, AB
Ohh &^%$, good call Crumm, ill go pour a jug in their right quik here. I never thought of that. Will the anit-freeze by chance help melt any of the ice?
I may be abkle to get my paws on a 428 pi, if and when this thing *****s the bed, but thats another story. thanks man.
I may be abkle to get my paws on a 428 pi, if and when this thing *****s the bed, but thats another story. thanks man.
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