Below Zero

[Guest red7]

I wake up sweating in the night wondering. Have I put enough antifreeze in my S7's cooling system? We are seeing -5 at night. She's locked up safe in her garage but will she be okay? I think I'll drain the cooling system tomorrow morning. Oh no! I always loose a pint of blood when I undo the bottom hose. Maybe I'll just pour half a litre of antifreeze into the rad. (after I've worked out how to get half a litre of fluid out of there) and turn the engine over a few times. Any bright ideas? What have you guys done to winterise your toys?

[Guest Ian & Carole]

Hi Steve

 

Simple answer ..... nothing..... its sat in the garage under its cover keeping the Beauford company till the spring.

[miikae]

Your not alone there, as i bought a block drain tap for such an event but as yet not got around to fitting it, i'm just hopeing i have enough antifreeze in the system too.

 

Mike

[Andi]

Thats just reminded me guys.

No antifreeze just water, after blowing a hose off the carb manifold months ago..

Think I better run to the garage sharpish

[thespannerman]

Wallys at work left two steam pressure washers outside the other night, manager can't work out why the pumps have packed up. Tried explaining that water expands when it freezes but he just looked blank and said they only got fixed the other week!

[Guest The Modfather]

Done mine on the Thursday morning of the big freeze! Stuck 2 litres in so I'm hoping there's enough in there. I did run it Friday and it all went ok, so now it's in the garage it should be ok.

[Guest bettinson2005]

if your not going to use it over winter i would drain it better to be safe than sorry just dont forget to refill after winter

[Bob Tucker]

Fitted a radiator in the garage connected directly to the central heating in the house.....

Put down two layers of carpet (it helps living near a "Carpet Right" depot!)

Insulated the garage roof & fitted fire resistant plasterboard.

(just wish I hadnt left the last one until yesterday)

 

Bob

[Jez Morton]

Whats all the fuss about, the antifreeze I have says 25% mix okay for UK conditions and 50% is good for -36.

You can get a cheap tester for antifreeze from Halfords for £5.

I'd worry more about everyday car as I don't check or add antifreeze its done in the service allegedly and the car lives outside.

I wouldn't recommend draining the coolant as antifreeze is a corrosion inhibitor as well and you may find water pumps and things start to rust then leak after being left open to air.

 

Jez

[steve in stockport]

50 - 50 mix all year round for me, stops any of this worrying

[Guest alan rowe]

wrap the engine up in a nice big blanket -- that will sort it

 

Alan

[Guest shorty]

I wake up sweating in the night wondering. Have I put enough antifreeze in my S7's cooling system? We are seeing -5 at night. She's locked up safe in her garage but will she be okay? I think I'll drain the cooling system tomorrow morning. Oh no! I always loose a pint of blood when I undo the bottom hose. Maybe I'll just pour half a litre of antifreeze into the rad. (after I've worked out how to get half a litre of fluid out of there) and turn the engine over a few times. Any bright ideas? What have you guys done to winterise your toys?

Hi Steve

I take a little bit of Antifreeze from the rad and put it in the freezer for 24 hrs and see if it freezes.All the best for next year hope to see more of you and NE club Arthur

[johnlrichardson]

When draining its not good draining from the bottom hose Water will still be in the block which can freeze and crack the block It must be drained from the plug on the side of the engine as well

 

jon

[Guest Ian & Carole]

Hi all like Jez says

 

DO NOT DRAIN DOWN

 

modern antifreeze contains anti-corrosion inhibitors, to stop any alli parts from corrosion, obviously , and like already said water pump seals will dry out and guaranteed to leak when refilled.

 

Much better to just running the car up on a weekly / fortnightly basis.

 

If you do run the engine up, make sure that you run to full operating temp. without load of loud peddle, nice and gentle on tickover for the first few mins.