Leaving 100% water in an engine overnight below 32

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maketracks

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degrees Fahrenheit. Here I am, flushing out the engine on the dumb van, and the temp will be dipping down cold enough for all kind of snow warnings. I have the water in there to really flush that block out. I suspect it was never done. The water still runs out a milky color, almost exactly like dirty water. Unsure how many times of undoing the lower hose and crawling up under there will get it to run CLEAR! Like, as clear as it is put in. Then refill with 50/50 green, maybe a water pump conditioner from Prestone or something.

Anyways will it turn to ice and blow my engine and radiator apart? OR, does it not freeze because it is all closed up? Discuss, this is my first vehicle I have all to myself and am asking because I do not know. Thanks!
 
If it freezes it can damage the engine, radiator and heater core. if the block is that dirty you need to pull the drain plugs on the block and flush the mud out the holes. removing the lower hose only removes half the water and since the water jacket is below the water pump the dirt is in there
 
At 32* Idk, but straight water in a sealed cooling system will freeze and crack the block /radiator. Do you not have a petcock? Just leave the engine running with a garden hose in the radiator and the petcock open.
 
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Its always a risk. Many boat engines are cracked every winter as they are not winterized. At 32 probably not. Below 20 probably. But it also matters how long.

It can freeze closed up or not. Its mainly the temp and for how long.

I would not risk it. Dump in a gallon of pure coolant, run until its warm and you should be good. Even if its not enough, and it probably is not, it will cover you in RI for this storm. If it gets cold with coolant in the engine it turns to slush and does not expand.

Did you vehicle come from the factory with ole green? I would not use ole green unless it came from the factory with it.

What year and make/model.
 
At 32 overnight may not be enough time. There is a lot of thermal mass in the block and water... But I wouldnt chance it.

If you have that situation, Id either drain it all or else set a timer and go out in the middle of the night to turn it on.
 
32 degrees may not be cold enough to cause any freezing damage but if it were mine, I'd put some anti-freeze in there (probably don't need alot just to insure it's OK).
 
Originally Posted By: slug_bug
I'm no expert on cooling systems, but, I wouldn't take a chance! Get some coolant in there ASAP.


Thanks guys! You saved my engine!

Its a stupid Safari van, I may get rid of it.

Debating putting in a 1/2 gallon of coolant OR letting out all the water. Unsure...

And Donald its a 1994 GM I think it came with the green? No fancy extended life on those at that time IIRC. Starting to really hate this van. It ran without stalling today, but, it still sucks?
smirk.gif
No radio, maybe I can sell it. Yeah its a free vehicle but I want something with a little more.. style.. Anyways you are right I want it to run and not get destroyed by ice. Supposed to drop down to 20 or so tonight.

Let me see, I could let out all the water or add 1/3 bottle antifreeze I have.

I decided to put the antifreeze in and let it run through. It is running and mixing now.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
If the block is that dirty you need to pull the drain plugs on the block and flush the mud out the holes.


May I ask what you mean by this? The mud in the holes? What is the best way to do that?
 
Originally Posted By: maketracks
Originally Posted By: slug_bug
I'm no expert on cooling systems, but, I wouldn't take a chance! Get some coolant in there ASAP.


Thanks guys! You saved my engine!

Its a stupid Safari van, I may get rid of it.

Debating putting in a 1/2 gallon of coolant OR letting out all the water. Unsure...

And Donald its a 1994 GM I think it came with the green? No fancy extended life on those at that time IIRC. Starting to really hate this van. It ran without stalling today, but, it still sucks?
smirk.gif
No radio, maybe I can sell it. Yeah its a free vehicle but I want something with a little more.. style.. Anyways you are right I want it to run and not get destroyed by ice. Supposed to drop down to 20 or so tonight.

Let me see, I could let out all the water or add 1/3 bottle antifreeze I have.

I decided to put the antifreeze in and let it run through. It is running and mixing now.

I think you know this , but those vans are JUNK. Check the reviews. I avoid them like plague. Hard to work on and always breaking down.
 
Once you get through this, run as is with your antifreeze until you have more time, then drain it, run a cleaner in it as described in it's instructions (heater on, etc) then drain and rinse.
Once clean I'd fill it with an HOAT. These are typical approvals for a good HOAT formula that will be good for 5 or 6 years if you got it clean enough.

You can also add a filter in one of the heater lines if you still have crud circulating.

ASTM D 3306 ASTM D 4985 ASTM D 5345
ASTM D 4656 ASTM D 6210 Ford ESE-M97B44-A
Ford ESE-M97B18-C Caterpillar EC-1 Chrysler MS-7170
Cummins 90T8-4 Cummins 3666132 Detroit Diesel 7SE298
Navistar B1 (B6-008GO) John Deere H-5
John Deere 8650-5 Mack Truck 014GS17004 Ford New Holland 9-86
Freightliner 48-22880 White (GMC Div. Of Volvo) Case Corp. MS1710
Waukesha 4-19470 Audi BMW
GM 6043M GM 1825M GM 1899M
ATA RP 302A SAE J814C SAE J1034
SAE J1038 SAE J1941 Subaru
Nissan Mercedes
 
Originally Posted By: maketracks
Originally Posted By: Chris142
If the block is that dirty you need to pull the drain plugs on the block and flush the mud out the holes.


May I ask what you mean by this? The mud in the holes? What is the best way to do that?


Pull the engine drain plugs and poke in the hole with a small screwdriver or nail. See if there is dirt or chunks of rust, etc.
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: maketracks
Originally Posted By: Chris142
If the block is that dirty you need to pull the drain plugs on the block and flush the mud out the holes.


May I ask what you mean by this? The mud in the holes? What is the best way to do that?


Pull the engine drain plugs and poke in the hole with a small screwdriver or nail. See if there is dirt or chunks of rust, etc.
yupp.

I have heard that you can leave a 150w light bulb on the engine and the heat from the bulb will keep it warm enough to prevent freezing.

Never tried it myself.
 
At the very least drain the radiator, and probably (not for certain of course)what water remains in the block will have enough room to expand without breaking anything if it should freeze.
 
I just thought you all should know that it didnt get much below 25F last night. I mixed in a teeny bit of antifreeze. Will be putting in the product LeakySeals recommended before I see how easily this thing rolls off a cliff. Ooops, I mean, sell it...

It really stayed closer to 30 and this snow, while accumulating, showed me that 1. She still stalls and 2. I have overinflated tires with marginal thread. I was fishtailing pretty well.. maybe I need to take those down to 20PSI for this afternoon, IF I care to see if she improved with that stalling after throttle. I still haven't nailed it.. could still be tune-up too?
 
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