The water in my ragitor is frozen leading to my car trying to overheat. I'm gonna have to drive about 5 miles or so to the nearest store to get anti-freeze and de-icer for my windshield. I know my car will over-heat on the way there, and i know that i risk ruining my car for good, BUT!! Is it safe to put the anti-freze in my car in the parking lot? or will i have to drain everything out? What can it do?
2007-01-15 03:41:48 · 6 answers · asked by Shannon C 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Lacking a block heater for your car, the next best thing is to clear all the snow off the hood of the car and start the car (if it will start), and let it come up to operating temp. Then shut it down and cover the hood of the car with a blanket or comforter to trap the engines heat. This heat will start to warm up the radiator and melt the ice in it. This will take patience, I would allow a couple of hours for this, then remove the radiator cap and check to see if the ice is gone, if it is not you will have to repeat the defrost procedure. To be sure the ice is gone, start and let the engine idle for about 15 minutes, then shut it down and see if you can feel any cold spots on your radiator.
DO NOT REMOVE THE RADIATOR CAP! THE SYSTEM IS UNDER PRESSURE AND WILL EJECT HOT COOLANT ON YOU!
The results will tell you whether or not you need to repeat the above defrost procedure. When you're ready to go, take it to Sears or an oil change shop like Jiffy Lube, where they can properly flush and refill your cooling system.
2007-01-15 04:22:10 · answer #1 · answered by Galileon 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try starting the car letting it idle so it will warm up. Take warm (not hot) water and pour over the radiator and hoses to thaw the ice out. If you are lucky nothing will be cracked or broken from the ice expansion in the radiator and engine. If this works get the antifreeze/water changed out pronto for the correct mixture. You'll probably need to go with a 60/40 mixture of antifreeze to water for those temps.
2007-01-15 13:09:43 · answer #2 · answered by Trackerrrr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call a tow truck to take you and your car to a garage where they can thaw ,drain ,and check your head gasket (among other things like the water pump) Then they will put the correct mixture in for you.Good luck I hope your block and everything works out okay. I say tow truck because if it hasn't cracked the block or blew gaskets yet it probably will if you start it and the water wont flow you'll overheat it ,and you definitely don't want that.
2007-01-15 11:53:10 · answer #3 · answered by trevorgl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
U R screwed. Don't drive it. You can either (a) wait till warm weather or (b) get it inside to warm up so you can drain coolant and replace with proper water/anti-freeze mixture. Next fall have your coolant checked so this doesn't happen again.
2007-01-15 12:12:21 · answer #4 · answered by maxinebootie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i own a repair shop,and you,ll have to drain all that's there out of it,,if you had a friend that has a garage you could get it to, to let it warm up,,you might could save it,,but it may have already cracked the block or a head in it,,i hope it turns out ok,,but there's a chance it may already be cracked,,good luck with it,i hope this help,s.
2007-01-15 11:49:27 · answer #5 · answered by dodge man 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
go to shop where they can drane some water out and test amount of coolant... dont wreck it!
2007-01-15 11:46:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋