xHayleyx

as above the water in my fiesta is frozen !!
what should i do?! and how much damage is caused?!!

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Worst case scenario the engine block could crack, I personally would not start but cover the engine etc with a blanket etc and let it thaw naturally, I would not go pouring anti freeze on top etc, once thawed drain the coolant and refill with a proper Antifreeze concentration.

Martin

rostill2007

dont attempt to start it as for damge you could be looking at heater matrix, water pump, maybe headgasket and in some cases cracked block or core plugs being pushed out aswell as maybe some damage to the radiator water expands as it freezes and can cause all sort of ball ache im in the same situation but started up like a twat that resulted in fucked cambelt and water pump dont know full extent of the damged yet though still frozen

xHayleyx

thanks only problem is the car has to stay out side of my workshop, its a project at the moment so ive no idea what to do to thaw it out, it lives outside in this shit weather so i dont know how il get it to thaw out as it can go in the garage..

xHayleyx

i havent started it at all

Less.

just wait for the warmr weather to thaw it,and just prey it has not done any real damage,is the oringinal engine you got in there or the burton one

xHayleyx

ohhh god shit! i have another engine but didnt intened on putting in just yet.. bollocks

rostill2007

have you got any polistyrine or old sheets/blankets hanging about? if you have stuff that under the bonnet all round the engine all you can do really

xHayleyx

original one, burtons at home in the shed!

phil_rs

iTrader: (3)

Can't you just push it in the garage? If it's a project just drain the coolant completely. I thought you were a mechanic anyway?

Less.

good good you might be lucky once it has unfrzoen it might be okay, well lets hope so

rostill2007

you may have gotten away with it yet it doesnt neccersarily mean this will of happened just a chance in certain cases

xHayleyx

im still learning! i cant have it in the workshop its full up. i can drain it as its frozen solid!

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

You may be ok and have done no damage, just wrap it up if you can even being outside this will help, clearly the coolant is either old or has no anti freeze in.

Martin

xHayleyx

i hope so,

cabrio zo

Why did you not make sure it had enough antifreeze in it??
I KNOW mine has, but still checked to see what temp it went to as knew cold weather was coming, this is not aimed at you, but this isn't the first post about frozen cars in the last week! I just don't understand it!

Good chance it'll be ok, hope you can get it thawed, and replaced with proper coolant/antifreeze dilution!

Less.

wouldnt attempt to unfreeze it now or drain it now,just wiat for the weather to improve then cross your fingers and pray

jonny s2

iTrader: (12)

as said dont start it, untill the weather picks up and has thawed, you might be ok

ZTSI

if it was me i would remove bottom rad hose and leave it. when it melts it will remove its self! and then hurry up and put ur propper enigne in :P

xHayleyx

i hope so, im just gonna try find any sheets and put them in the bay, untill tomorrow, then im gonna see if i can heat her up some how,,

phil_rs

iTrader: (3)

That's told me then lol! A friend of mine used heat lamps when his froze up and started up fine after that

rostill2007

one of them posts was down to me and the reason mine froze up was that id completley lost interest in the car and never bothered checking when i rediscovered my interest because i was to excited about bein bothered with it again

think i need a

rostill2007

might give this a go myself one of them halogen stand up radiator things?

cabrio zo

I don't think I even saw your post to be honest!

phil_rs

iTrader: (3)

Think so yeah, he uses them to dry paint work as he does mobile smart repair

rostill2007

not many did to be fair

rostill2007

will give it a go then im sure ive got one some where. how bad was his frozen? mines completly solid top radiator hose feel like a rounders bat lmao

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

As said, insulate the engine, then maybe put a fan heater or similar on the block to start warming it up. Turn it over by hand first to make sure it's free before trying to start off the key.

phil_rs

iTrader: (3)

His was solid too dude

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

If possible,disconnect the water pipes off the radiator and pour boiling/hot water to make sure all the ice has gone from the radiator.pour warm water over where the waterpump is and leave the radiator pipes off from when you flushed the radiator through with warm water.

Pour more water over the heater matrix pipes,these should be towards the back of the engine going into the car.if you can see any other coolant pipes you can easily access,then disconnect them also,it won't do any harm.

Also make sure that you put boiling water again through the header tank so the ice melts and runs out,usually through the bottom radiator hose.

Refill the system with water just to check there's been no harm done to the engine,if it's that mk1 fiesta in your sig I'd be very surprised as their tough as old boots!!!

Let it get up to normal temperature and check that it's not overheating and that you get plenty of heat inside the car through the blowers,you may need to do a short drive to prove this,I did on my Corsa!!!

Once your happy its ok,no major leaks or anything else,then allow it to cool for say hlf hour,drain the water via the bottom hose.refit the hose and put in half water,half antifreeze and check alls well again,you may need to bleed it a bit but that's easy enough on fiestas,there pretty forgiving!!!

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

Personally,I wouldn't ignore it as it could get worse if it gets colder.it won't take long as long as the car starts.otherwise,as posted above,just pull a bottom rad hose off and let nature take it's course or try the boiling water trick,worked fine for me and that was a timing chain engine as well.

rostill2007

sounds like a good plan then if it takes to long or dont do much good ill pour in boiling water as suggested to the op by vaughant

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

It worked for me fella,just make sure you leave somewhere for it to go like the bottom rad hose removed.

carlo

iTrader: (4)

Take the bottom radiator hose off let it thaw & keep it drained when it does thaw

xHayleyx

sorry! im just worried about her!

xHayleyx

okay tomorrow im going to put heat lamps on it to defrost it, then flush it and do all of what is said above, cheers guys,

nealo

BAH i just done this in my focus, started it up to warm up i figured the garage that had it would have filled it with anitfreeze and it seems they havent because the pipes are frozen.. i smelt a burning smell so knocked the engine off straight away and went to investigate.. im just going to pray now that no long term damage has been done

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

Don't panic!!!their as tough as old boots them,at worst I'd say a core plug which you can just pop back in but I still think it will be fine.

xHayleyx

ha ha cheers i was quite careless to be fair, i thought there was some in there, im going to try and sort it out tomorrow, and yes thats my fiesta in my sig, shes pretty hardy, i working tommorow so il defrost her then if its not to busy

Antti O

Best thing is to tow car in the warm garage, let it melt and then replace that water with proper 50/50 antifreeze mixture.