Help - Frozen coolant?!

Post by **Ammo** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:18 pm

Just been out to the lude as I need go out, but thought i'd check the coolant before I did

The coolant is what's best described as "slushy" you can feel in the pipes it's frozen but not solid!

Guess there isn't enough anti freeze in the system, but now what do I do?

I don't really want to start it with slush in the coolant system, but I also don't want it to freeze solid and damage something.

What options have I got?

Dino · Post by **Dino** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:31 pm

Drain the coolant ammo. Put some new stuff in at winter coolant concentration.

Check that none of the coolant hoses have popped off too with it freezing.

Post by **Pushki** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:58 pm

I think we should all check our coolant.
I don't know what temp the coolant freezes at, but it is exceptionally cold out there.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/frozen-fuel-ri ... 48288.html

Post by **Ammo** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 5:24 pm

How can a drain the coolant if it's frozen? I'd have to squeeze it out like ice cream lol

Don't want to run the engine in case I feck the water pump

grant_day · Post by **grant_day** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 6:02 pm

Get a small Heater and put it facing the frozen pipes, after a few mins start her up and let her run a while and add some more concentrated antifreeze solution in

BMCC · Post by **BMCC** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 6:06 pm

I suppose you could wait till it is not -16C at night

Then flush the system out using a hose to make sure you get all the old coolant out.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 6:58 pm

2 choices really
A open the patio doors and take it indoors and warm it up then run it, drain out some coolant and add antifreeze or
B if its only slushy then the water pump isn't going to strip your timing belt and f*%k your valves, better to do it sooner rather than later and risk it popping out a coreplug or worse if it gets colder.

personally i would run it now if its only slushy rather than have the mrs moan about the lounge carpet

then drain and add antifreeze.
dont forget to let it cool down a bit before you do drain it though boiling water is crap for stripping paint but brilliant for stripping skin

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:00 pm

carefull with antifreeze if you have cats as well it will kill them in hours and there is something about antifreeze that attracts them

Bri · Post by **Bri** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:04 pm

keep pouring warm water on it. dont get a cracked block like I did ffs!

Post by **Donald** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:23 pm

mercutio wrote:carefull with antifreeze if you have cats as well it will kill them in hours and there is something about antifreeze that attracts them

Ethylene glycol, it doesn't smell of anything bad and tastes sugary. In simplest terms it's an alcohol and causes dehydration, blocks the kidneys and makes your blood/body tissue acidy. Then you die.

Sorry Ammo, I have no advice for you. But I can help your animals!

Lude Generation

Help - Frozen coolant?!

Help - Frozen coolant?!

Re: Help - Frozen coolant?!