what's the best way to thaw out a motor on a jeep?

Question

the antifreeze leaked out and now the water is frozzen solid in the motor, i tryed to start it once and it smoked realy bad so i shut it off. a friend of mine said that the block wasn't cracked but it needed to thaw out, but i am in a hury and don't have a garage to put it in to thaw it out the way it needs to be, so if anyone can tell me of other ways to thaw it out without doing any damage please let me know. oh and if anyone wants to buy it as is please let me know, thank you very much

Answer 1

Dipstick style oil heater, electric space heater or the light bulbs under the hood are the best bets, a kerosene heater could cause more problems, get a gas line too hot with an open flame and no more JEEP.

Bigger issue is this: If it's got frozen water in the engine, you have problems and most likely will not be able to drive it once thawed out.

The engine is designed with what they call expansion plugs (also called "freeze" plugs). They are there to give way if water freezes in the block to relieve the pressure from the expanding water as it freezes to help prevent the block from getting cracked. Once it freezes, it pushes these plugs out and they will either fall completely out, or partway out, leaking very bad (in other words, water will run out as fast as you put it in). It has to let the pressure from the expanding water go somewhere, this is a fail-safe to keep you from having to buy a new motor.

So you'll likely be stuck taking it to a mechanic and having it fixed, which could run into a good bit of money, but still less than a replacement motor.

The smoke from starting it up could have been from the water pump being frozen in place, causing the belt to spin on the pulley without the pulley spinning if the smoke was from the engine compartment. Otherwise, there may be more serious damage.


------------The freeze plugs are indeed there to allow freezing water to expand.

The holes they plug are created to aid in making water passages (made by sand cores inside the block during the manufacturing process) and allow the sand to be removed. BUT, they use a plug that pushes out to prevent the block from cracking rather than using a threaded plug that will not move.

They machine this hole to accept the plugs, they could just as easily make them threaded holes and use a pipe plug. Most engines will actually have at least a few core plugs that are plugged with a pipe fitting instead of a freeze plug. Pipe plugs won't allow expansion.

Answer 2

yet another 50, 000 miles? if you're touching on a Cherokee and under no circumstances a Grand Cherokee, then you truly could comprehend that this Jeep has a l6 motor (or instantly 6). this is a 6 cylinder 4.0 liter powerhouse. This should be the most bulletproof motor ever made. With wide-spread oil alterations, you may get over three hundred,000 miles from this one. At 91,000 miles your Jeep continues to be a toddler. and there is very few if the different 6 cylinders accessible that would come on the point of it for torque. purchase it, shelter it, and also you wil be utilising it 10 years from now. I have one with over one hundred and eighty, 000 miles and the engine nevertheless purrs like sparkling. once you purchase it, signal in with a sturdy on line Jeep communicate board like Jeeps limitless forums and study extra about this truck. you received't be apologetic about it, yet you may kick your self for no longer determining to purchase one it really is 4x4!

Answer 3

There is a great chance that the damage has already been done,,,you will not know for sure whether your block or cylinder head is cracked until it completely thaws out.
Hopefully in your case,,,the frost plugs have blown out and saved your engine.
If you have a small electric heater,,usually about $40 from a hardware store,,you can put it under the hood and turn it on over night,,or all day,,just make sure it stays relatively dry.

Answer 4

Get a small quartz heater, set it inside the engine compartment, and turn it on. close the hood enough to be able to open it with just the hood latch. do one side at a time. Pull the thermostat and when water comes out of the block it's good to go. Don't be surprised to find out you may need a head gasket. What kind of Jeep? where is it? and how much? email [e-mail]

Answer 5

ummm...if it's frozen that bad...you have problems. It will be difficult to tell if the block is cracked until it thaws out. you could get a space heater and plug it in and let that thaw it out...but if it's that frozen I'm gonna bet a new engine is going to be needed.

You may try purchasing a new lower radiator hose and puting a lug in heater in line of it...but to be real...I'd wait until it gets warm enough to thaw out itself and see what damage has occurred.

Answer 6

Go to Lowe's Home depot or any large electrical shop. Pick up a couple of inexpensive clamp on open reflector shades, two heat bulbs and place them as close to each side of the block as possible. 2-4 hrs. should do it for you.

Answer 7

In response to everyone saying that expansion plugs are there just in case the water freezes in the block they will blow out and save the block, WRONG. They are there to aid in the machining and cleaning of the block after it has been manufactured.

Answer 8

do like they do with diesels, get a bag of charcoal get it going good to where the coals are red and push the jeep overtop of them right at the oil pan and put plastic around the base of the jeep to keep the heat in.

Answer 9

A kerosene heater and some sort of fire-resistant tarp would be my choice, if I had one available.

Something like one of these:
http://www.masterheaters.com/

Also, it might take some time, but I think if you could install a block heater if you don't already have one, that might do it.

Answer 10

buy NO heaters make good and HOT then crank by hand then start