Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Mr Skrunts]

Was trying to pick up a 60w tube heater, about a foot long.

Also considered laying the wallpaper stripper plate under the rad to thaw the front out.

Biggest concern once it does start to thaw are all the pipes at the rear and getting heat to/through them.   :-/

[Martin_1962]

You have had an operation on your foot/toe?

I have a great big pin in a toe and I am driving - easier than walking in sandals in the snow

[Taxi_Driver]

Be careful once it has thawed as it could have sheared the impeller off the water pump.Now you've run it once, the damage, if any, is done. I would pop out and run it for a few minutes every couple of hours to keep the block warm. As said, the radiator will be a challenge to defrost so some blankets over the front of it to keep the cold out and some source of gentle heat under the bonnet, if possible.

Kevin

I think Skruntie, may have got away with that one....as, if water pump frozen, i would have expected the belt to 'scream' with the pump not turning...  :-/ ....even for a few seconds....before impeller sheared, if it has  :-/

[cem_devecioglu]

theory says if the coolant is frozen engine must overheat after sometime of idling..

imo whatever happened is happened (I'm not sure)

so use some small electric heaters and heat the engine asap.. (how do you say from down under )

[Kevin Wood]

I think Skruntie, may have got away with that one....as, if water pump frozen, i would have expected the belt to 'scream' with the pump not turning...  :-/ ....even for a few seconds....before impeller sheared, if it has  :-/

Depends if it has a metal or plastic impeller, I guess.

I'm not sure 60w of heat will do a lot. Needs a fan heater firing up under the bonnet with a few blankets to insulate it IMHO.

Kevin

[Mr Skrunts]

I think Skruntie, may have got away with that one....as, if water pump frozen, i would have expected the belt to 'scream' with the pump not turning...  :-/ ....even for a few seconds....before impeller sheared, if it has  :-/

Depends if it has a metal or plastic impeller, I guess.

I'm not sure 60w of heat will do a lot. Needs a fan heater firing up under the bonnet with a few blankets to insulate it IMHO.

Kevin

This is an interesting one.

This car has spent a lot of time stood and has often suffered from a flat battery, even since I fitted a vauxhall go battery 18/24 months ago.

I have since purchased a CTeck/h charger after recomendations on here and recharged the battery from being fully flat a while back.

From then the battery has been no prob, but the car is getting used more often.  After the 2 feet of snow last time round I waited for the snow to go and after 2 weeks went to the car expecting a flat battery but it fired up 1st turn of the key.



Interestingly I had driven onto my drive and as it slopes I was facing downhill towards the front wall.

When I last parked it up I reversed onto the drive and exsposing the the front of the car to the more severe icy weather and dint use the car for about a week.


When I did go out, I struggled to get into the car because of the frozen door seals the same as many have reported on the forum.  When I turned the key in all honesty I was expecting a flat battery, and therefore was not surprised when the car seemed to struggle but did reluctantly start on the 4/5th rotatation of the starter on what sounded like a very weak battery.

As mentioned before, I warmed it up keeping an eye on the gauge but felt no screen heat etc etc.

Battery seems fine and has not needed charging.  So was the resistance to start caused by a very cold battery (But has got an insulted jacket on it.)    An icy cold car all over, or as Kevin mentioned, having frozen coolent round the impeller blade, and maybe the reluctant start, and no belt screeching was the water pump shaft getting destryed.  :-/

Anawers on a post card please.

[TheBoy]

I'd insultae with blankets, and get 2kw fan heater pointing upwards from underneath for several hours.

No sure leaving it is an option, as its going to be a while before it can thaw.

As you have already started it, assuming you can get the battery charger on it, how about starting, let it idle for 5mins, stop, and repeat hourly - get gentle warmth back into the block.

[Mr Skrunts]

Story so far

been out today and had a squeeze of the top rad pipe, had plenty of thawing ice in it.

Started the car and warmed it through on tickover.  Up to about 87deg there was a bit of heat coming through the air vents so hopefully all pipes are starting to clear.  Engine got to 94deg and the temp suddenly dropped to tp under 90deg so am assuming the thermostat had oped ok, carried on with the warm up, never went above 94deg.

Then had a panic thinking the header tank might still be frozen and not knowing the water level in the engine I tuned it off and went to check.

Should have checked bfore I started water level in tank was low, just touch it with my finger.

Topped up and rerun.  no over heating, had a run up and down the street and all looks ok, just need to keep an eye on water level and for leaking pipes.


Am peed off, 5 litres of anti freeze in boot and now cant get boot open.

[cem_devecioglu]

Story so far

been out today and had a squeeze of the top rad pipe, had plenty of thawing ice in it.

Started the car and warmed it through on tickover.  Up to about 87deg there was a bit of heat coming through the air vents so hopefully all pipes are starting to clear.  Engine got to 94deg and the temp suddenly dropped to tp under 90deg so am assuming the thermostat had oped ok, carried on with the warm up, 1.never went above 94deg.

Then had a panic thinking the header tank might still be frozen and not knowing the water level in the engine I tuned it off and went to check.

Should have checked bfore I started water level in tank was low, just touch it with my finger.

Topped up and rerun.  no over heating, had a run up and down the street and all looks ok, just need to keep an eye on water level and for leaking pipes.


2.Am peed off, 5 litres of anti freeze in boot and now cant get boot open.

1. good news, nothing happened..

2.either replace with antifreeze or drain the water completely..

[Mr Skrunts]

I would do cem, but I need to use the car and I cant get in the boot.

Antifreeze is in the boot and tools are too.

Bank holidays are over tomorrow so will drive over to my mates, drop and flush the system and refill with antifreeze mix.

Just need to find out how many litres the system is.

When I park the car nose 1st it seems to protect from the wind, I reversed on the other day and left the car wide open to the cold winds  :-/

[cem_devecioglu]

I would do cem, but I need to use the car and I cant get in the boot.

Antifreeze is in the boot and tools are too.

Bank holidays are over tomorrow so will drive over to my mates, drop and flush the system and refill with antifreeze mix.

Just need to find out how many litres the system is.

When I park the car nose 1st it seems to protect from the wind, I reversed on the other day and left the car wide open to the cold winds  :-/

5.75 litre total..

[Mr Skrunts]

Cheers cem

Been out tonight, no probs, only traveled 2 miles to girlfriends but picked her up and went another half mile to a pizza shop for supper and whilst outside temp started to rise to 100 so turned it off.  Had to wait 15 mins for food so then had no temp issues driving the half mile back.

Warmed the car up slowly after putting about .5 litre of water in whilst we sat and chatted in the car temp went towards the 100 again so tuned off till ready to leave.  2 miles home and temp rising again.

have noticed the still isnt full heat from heater matrix.

So tomorrow, drain and flush what we can and top back up with correct mix

Need to check header tank as it not giving low coolent waning any more.

Also need to check all pipes and try and see if HBV is leaking as I have allways suspected it to have a tiny leak.

As for heater matrix, not sure if still frozen or an air lock or both.  Time will tell if frozen.  Was fine before the big freeze.

Does any one have a split diagram showing pipe connections to heater matrix.

TIA.   

[CaptainZok]

Fan heater inside the car for a couple of hours should rule out a frozen matrix shouldn't it Skrunts?
Other than that if it's been diluted to virtually pure water, drain the rad and stick 5 litres of neat anti freeze in then top it up to level.

[Mr Skrunts]

Fan heater inside the car for a couple of hours should rule out a frozen matrix shouldn't it Skrunts?
Other than that if it's been diluted to virtually pure water, drain the rad and stick 5 litres of neat anti freeze in then top it up to level.

Have thought about the heater thing CZ but havent got one as yet.  Thet is a little bit of heat getting through so thats a start.

Will drop the coolent and flush where possible, and then put the 5 litres in as you suggest. 

[Kevin Wood]

I would do cem, but I need to use the car and I cant get in the boot.

Antifreeze is in the boot and tools are too.

Bank holidays are over tomorrow so will drive over to my mates, drop and flush the system and refill with antifreeze mix.

Just need to find out how many litres the system is.

When I park the car nose 1st it seems to protect from the wind, I reversed on the other day and left the car wide open to the cold winds  :-/

5.75 litre total..

of oil...

Water capacity is nearer 10 litres so 5 litres of neat antifreeze for a 50% mix.

Sounds to me like the water pump might be fubar. I'd whip that off for a check while  you've got the coolant drained.

Kevin