BCBIGROLLER

i was wondering how i would un-freeze a blck an rradiator with out doing damage? if i plug the block heater in, would that thaw it out?

Yoda

I think it would be better to place a space heater to blow warm air under the engine compartment. If its frozen, i think the block heater won't do it (no circulation, and localized overheat?)

Can you start it to warm it up (run a couple mins, shut off a couple, run a couple)? That may slowly thaw it.

Marc

You might just burn out the block heater and it wouldn't thaw out the rad.

Best thing to do is tow it to a heated garage and leave it there for at least 24 hours.

It might already be damaged though.

abecedarian

other option:
halogen light under the truck, put a blanket over the top and keep the hood closed.... wait.

abecedarian

if you have a block heater, it shouldn't cause any problem to plug it in.
natural convection will cause the warm coolant to want to rise and will carry heat elsewhere.

Matt16

maybe use a stiffer mix in your rad next time. Do you have a garage? Buy a couple $30 space heaters from Rona and put them under the truck.

just a 22re

if you start it your going to be repalcing alot of parts man water pump rad hoses t-stat heater core everything from the chunks of ice flowing though the block and stuff think about that one unless you take the belts off so the water pump dont move when you start it


and how did you freze a block without blowing out the freeze plugs?

shancerlelby

unless you are running straight water it cant freeze. Modern coolant turns to a jello like substance and even when in this state a vehicle can be ran and warmed up to a point where it turns back to liquid from just running. Plug it in and wait, it'll thaw. At -38 here i have more problems with my auto not going into gear until the motor is warmed up and heat transfers into the trans.

toyminator2000

The damage isn't done during the thaw out process its done when it freezes. When water freezes is expands and when its in the engine block it has to go somewhere. That's when the freeze plugs blow out and the block could crack. If you had water in the radiator and it was full you probably already damaged it. Just start it and let the engine heat thaw it out now. If your coolant level was low you may have been saved depending on how fast it froze.

83

Freeze plugs rarely pop out with a frozen block. I've been over this a bit lately 'cause I just had my antifreeze freeze last week. It was just a bit too dilute, I guess. Anyways the people who know seem to know that "freeze" plugs are just holes in the block to pour the sand out of after casting the block. They are not to relieve pressure from expanding ice. As a by-product of coolant freezing, one or more may pop out, but not necessarily, and even if they do pop out, it doesn't necessarily save your block from cracking.

It looks like I dodged the bullet...so far no noticeable damage, but I'm not sure that things froze solid. I had an antifreeze icicle hanging from my lower radiator hose. Hopefully that's where all the expansion went to...

If you've got a just slightly too diluted coolant mix, it shouldn't need to be warmed up too much to thaw, just get it in your garage or a friends. Space heaters would work good too, though.

seaofnames

When I was on the island last year, I got in my truck in the morning(about 40F) took it to the car wash, shut my mostly cold engine off and it pulled me through the car wash. Started up, and a few seconds later, i see white smoke behind my truck accompanied by that sweet smell of burning coolant.

Luck was on my side, as the engine seized, I was going about 60mph up a small hill and a toyota dealership was on the right. I had just enough momentum to pull it in front of the service department!!

The block heater frost plug had popped out of its place and leaked a bunch of coolant over/near the exhaust!

The part was about 50 cents from the local auto parts store, and of course because I was at a dealership, they charged me about an hour and a half of labour(by the book). I walked out of there with $200 less in my pocket.