Frozen coolant? How worried should i be now!!!

bloopbloob

bloopbloob

Member
Sep 27, 2006
578
4
16
Alberta
#1
we got hit with a crazy cold snap over night. temps dropped to -40C (thats -40F also). went to check my coolant and it was like a slurpee, but i checked when it was about -30C this afternoon. what are the chances i cracked the block or damaged something else?
 

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#2
the possibility is there, although i dont think you should worry if this is the first time. you might just want to change your mixture and store somewhere where it won't freeze over. *if* you are one of those lucky guys, the freeze plugs will pop before your block cracks.
 
#8
how much good will the block heater do? i didnt know it would get so cold, so it wasn't plugged in, but now it is. how far will the heat spread? it's also supposed to get like 7* colder tonight than it was last night....
 
#11
bloopbloob said:
how much good will the block heater do? i didnt know it would get so cold, so it wasn't plugged in, but now it is. how far will the heat spread? it's also supposed to get like 7* colder tonight than it was last night....
Click to expand...

Plug it in, It will help.

Straight antifreeze will get slushy but not freeze solid.
 
#12
mustangjoe87 said:
If you have a block heater plug that sucker in!!! For those of you that think "freeze Plugs" pop out to save the block, you are mistaken. Freeze plugs are there from the casting process in order to remove excess sand. There is no coolant in the freeze plug area.
Click to expand...


Whoever told you that was only partially correct.

There is coolant in the block. The freeze plugs will pop out if there is coolant in there that freezes. Freeze plugs can leak coolant also if not fitted properly.



Freeze plug is a misnomer for Core plug or expansion plug, but is commonly refered by many a mechanic as a 'frost plug'




A true Freeze Plug is an expansion plug located in the side of an engine block that is supposed to protect the block against freeze damage. Water expands when it turns to ice, and if the coolant doesn't have enough antifreeze protection it can freeze and crack the engine block. The freeze plugs (there are usually several) are supposed to pop out under such conditions to relieve the pressure on the block.

Most of the plugs to be found on an engine are actually to plug the holes where sand cores have been held. The sand cores are used in the casting process to form internal cavities in the engine block or cylinder head, for cooling water for example, and so should really be referred to as core plugs.

Freeze/core plugs can often be a source of troublesome leaks as a result of internal cooling system corrosion. Ease of replacement depends on accessibility. In many cases the plug area will be difficult to reach and using a mallet to perform maintenance or replacement will be nearly impossible without special facilities. Expanding rubber plugs are available as replacements when access is a problem.

A variety of block heater called a "freeze plug heater" can be installed, replacing the freeze plugs, to warm the engine before start up
 
#14
The only concern I would have if I were you is you might need to get the vehicle warm without starting it somehow. When I did this my water pump didnt like me and broke due to the cold/icy mix.
 
#16
mustangjoe87 said:
For those of you that think "freeze Plugs" pop out to save the block, you are mistaken. Freeze plugs are there from the casting process in order to remove excess sand. There is no coolant in the freeze plug area.
Click to expand...

I blew a freeze plug out in my old car.....guess what poured out in a matter of seconds causing my low coolant light and my temp light to come on...You guessed it
 
#17
More coolant to less water should fix this as long as adding the extra coolant wont hurt the engine... This should lower the freezing point depression and the boiling point elevation and cure your problem... Just a little chemistry thrown in there...
 
#18
1.8kmint said:
More coolant to less water should fix this as long as adding the extra coolant wont hurt the engine... This should lower the freezing point depression and the boiling point elevation and cure your problem... Just a little chemistry thrown in there...
Click to expand...

thanks. not to be rude, but i do understand this. i have taken many university chemistry courses. my point is: if it was slush at -30 when i checked it, what was it like at -40? and what will it be like tonight at -47*C!!! those temps are without windchill btw, but i know windchill doesnt affect the engine. i don't even want to start it when its this cold (if it even would) to warm it up enough to drain some coolant and richen the antifreeze/water ratio..... its dark and cold so i'm pretty much just crossing my fingers at this point. bare skin freezes in less than 2 minutes i heard on the news tonight. with the windchill it's like -60*C or colder right now.
 
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