Hi Guys!
I have done a stupid stupid thing... i never actually knew that you have to put antifreeze in the radiator! i never had a problem with it before. What a complete idiot i am!
So i tried starting it up Monday morning and it wouldnt turn over and just squealed and creaked at me. so i left it til that evening then bumped it down the road thinking it was the battery.... nope.... it squealed some more and started up... then smelt of burning and sure enough the fanbelt snapped. so i reversed it and parked it back up. My partner tried to fit the new fanbelt today while i was at work and found that all the water in the radiator was frozen and it was all frozen in the hose.
Will i have done serious damage to the engine?
I'm so worried!
Whats the best way to defrost it?
I dont finish work til 8 so i have to try after that in the dark!
I'm worried about it freezing some more tonight.
My partners dad has put some antifreeze in the top of the radiator and it has started to melt it but they have abandoned it til tomorrow when its light.
Thanks guys!!
Jess
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Frozen Water In Engine!
Started by
Jaydee88
, Mar 12 2013 07:43 PM
29 replies to this topic
#1
Jaydee88
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 07:43 PM
#2
mk1leg
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 07:50 PM
Hi..Jess you can put a fan heater under the front and warm it and drain rad and add antifreeze or, you can cover the engine wirh an old fleece blanket over night and drain it tomorrow .....the trouble is you might have damaged the rad or at worst cracked the block...........good luck
#3
lrostoke
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 07:50 PM
the freezing will have frozen the water in the water pump stopping the fan and top pulley spinning.....hence why the fan belt melted and snapped.
its possible the freezing could have damaged your radiator, the expanding ice could split the core.
same with the engine could have damaged the block.
The antifreeze won't be able to get into the block because the water won't circulate while its frozen
look at the block see if the core plugs have been forced out..
its possible the freezing could have damaged your radiator, the expanding ice could split the core.
same with the engine could have damaged the block.
The antifreeze won't be able to get into the block because the water won't circulate while its frozen
look at the block see if the core plugs have been forced out..
#4
Bungle
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 07:51 PM
once it's all defrosted i would remove the water pump and check that for damage
everything else should be ok
everything else should be ok
#5
leroy26
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 07:53 PM
you have major problems if there is frozen water in there as the engine block will probably be cracked now which will mean you need a whole new engine.
if you have put antifreeze in there now leave it to thaw itself donot heat it and you may be lucky that your engine is ok
when you start it again check it for leaks and cracks
if you have put antifreeze in there now leave it to thaw itself donot heat it and you may be lucky that your engine is ok
when you start it again check it for leaks and cracks
#6
Ipod
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 07:54 PM
Hi..Jess you can put a fan heater under the front and warm it and drain rad and add antifreeze or, you can cover the engine wirh an old fleece blanket over night and drain it tomorrow .....the trouble is you might have damaged the rad or at worst cracked the block...........good luck
Water expands by some percentage, so somthings gonna give
As said heat gently, and keep ya fingers crossed
#7
Dan
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 07:55 PM
If it was frozen solid it can't freeze more, there is a limit to how far water expands as it freezes and if the whole thing was solid then you have reached that point I believe.
It shouldn't have done any permanent damage to the engine but will have caused problems that will need to be fixed. In all probability you will have to replace the core plugs around the engine as they will have shifted with the expansion of the water. You might need a new water pump if your attempt to start the car has shifted the frozen impeller on the shaft. You might need to change the head gasket and thermostat. The radiator and heater core are probably history. There is a chance of serious damage to the engine but it's unlikely. You won't really know what's broken until it thaws out and you can get a look at it. It would be a good idea to remove the heater while everything is still solid so you don't find the car flooded when it thaws out. If the hoses are solid, remove it and leave the ends in a bucket. If they aren't then it might be OK. Be prepared for some spillage as you remove it if you do.
It shouldn't have done any permanent damage to the engine but will have caused problems that will need to be fixed. In all probability you will have to replace the core plugs around the engine as they will have shifted with the expansion of the water. You might need a new water pump if your attempt to start the car has shifted the frozen impeller on the shaft. You might need to change the head gasket and thermostat. The radiator and heater core are probably history. There is a chance of serious damage to the engine but it's unlikely. You won't really know what's broken until it thaws out and you can get a look at it. It would be a good idea to remove the heater while everything is still solid so you don't find the car flooded when it thaws out. If the hoses are solid, remove it and leave the ends in a bucket. If they aren't then it might be OK. Be prepared for some spillage as you remove it if you do.
#8
ANON
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 07:56 PM
fan belt off, rad cap off and just run it for a bit. if you can be bothered drop the bottom hose off the rad.
#9
Shifty
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 07:57 PM
you have major problems if there is frozen water in there as the engine block will probably be cracked now which will mean you need a whole new engine.
if you have put antifreeze in there now leave it to thaw itself donot heat it and you may be lucky that your engine is ok
when you start it again check it for leaks and cracks
Good grief!! Thats a bit harsh!!
I've done the same thing to many engines over the years and the worst that has happened is a core plug popped out.
At the moment I wouldn't be too concerned, let it thaw, replace the fan belt and get it running again. Chances are it will be fine, if it isn't then come back to us!!
#10
wile e coyote
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 08:01 PM
you have major problems if there is frozen water in there as the engine block will probably be cracked now which will mean you need a whole new engine.
if you have put antifreeze in there now leave it to thaw itself donot heat it and you may be lucky that your engine is ok
when you start it again check it for leaks and cracks
You'll be fine - let it thaw out stick a new fanbelt on and I'm 99.9% sure it'll be ok....engine core plugs are sacrificial to a degree - so if all still firmly in position it's a good sign.....top up the coolant when thawed and if no leaks you're good to go...
#11
leroy26
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 08:02 PM
im always positive!
#12
Ipod
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 08:04 PM
water expands by as much as 9%...so doubt block is gone, as said, core plugs, pump and a hoses
#13
Alex_B
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 08:10 PM
Cant suggest anything more than above other than using the correct coolant anyway, just water isnt really enough to keep an engine cool as efficiently as possible, coolant raises the boiling point of the water, it also helps prevent corrosion in the system :)
#14
nev_payne
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 08:14 PM
Oh jeeze that's gonna be potentially nasty.
Replace with a 50% glycol (blue) mix once it's fully defrosted and drained. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a new leak or 2.
Replace with a 50% glycol (blue) mix once it's fully defrosted and drained. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a new leak or 2.
#15
MRA
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Posted 12 March 2013 - 08:22 PM
fan belt off, rad cap off and just run it for a bit. if you can be bothered drop the bottom hose off the rad.
I wouldn't even bother with dropping the hose until it is all thawed out, and the engine will be safe whilst there is water in it even if it is ice for a moment.
This is the exact method I have used over the years to help others who have done exactly the same thing that you have done.
once you can turn the fan blade by hand (WITHOUT THE BELT FITTED) then it is time to stop and fit a new fan belt, check levels check for leaks etc.
do not fit the cap yet but do watch the level and for sudden steam in the engine bay or inside ie the heater or its pipes.
Rubber hoses won't be an issue as they can stretch, if its really cold then you may have cracked the block or head, however it is rare to get this level of damage, I hope you are lucky.
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