Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all posting on behalf of a mate. Hes just checked his 2.1 to find it frozen solid water pump solid and ice pop sticking out of the header tank. Question is what sort of damage could it have done and what to try next.
Thanks

Nothing until after it thaws!
Then you can check whats damaged.

i would leave it until it thaws out.and then do a complete coolant change.only this time dont use 100% water. use 50% coolant.hopefully no damage has occurred..

I'd be wanting a garage with some heating and thaw it out.. I just couldn't wait

As kev says.....when water turns to ice it expands, as you already know. The power of expanding ice knows no bounds, it can split open an engine block with suprising ease.
Thankfully the core plugs pop out first with most engines, but having said this, we have just seen the lowest temperatures in the UK for many years, infact, we could be in the grip of this freeze for another 8 to 10 days, so what I would be worried about is: if the damage hasn't been done yet could could well happen in the coming days.
That's why you really need to bed/steal or borrow storage so you can get the van in, out of the cold and defrosted.
Fingers crossed for you mate.

Martin

Any progress on this??? you may want to check your pipes (metal ones) that run underneath from front to back and check the radiator too if you hav'nt already

Red Westie wrote:As kev says.....when water turns to ice it expands, as you already know. The power of expanding ice knows no bounds, it can split open an engine block with suprising ease.
Thankfully the core plugs pop out first with most engines, but having said this, we have just seen the lowest temperatures in the UK for many years, infact, we could be in the grip of this freeze for another 8 to 10 days, so what I would be worried about is: if the damage hasn't been done yet could could well happen in the coming days.
That's why you really need to bed/steal or borrow storage so you can get the van in, out of the cold and defrosted.
Fingers crossed for you mate.

Martin

I dont, as yet, have my van under cover but hopefully it willbe inside in the next couple of weeks so that I can begin the bodyswork restoration; I still worry,despite it having sufficient antifreeze, of it somehow freezing. As its been mentioned, frozen water expands and WILL wreck anything in its way. Let's look forward to the summer

bodywork in mid winter?
bit damp for that mate, even if it is garaged.

kevtherev wrote:bodywork in mid winter?
bit damp for that mate, even if it is garaged.

No, I'm going to have small woodburner going in there [24/7 if necessary; I've plenty of wood to use]to keep the damp out [its an old hoop shaped nissen hut type building] and will be fine for the job. I'll do some images of it when I am ready to start. Got my brother-in-laws T25 hi-top to do too, he goes in first.....

A propper nissan hut, brilliant, they are good as condensation doesnt drop from them (it runs down) and they are good for thermal heat flows
mike

Yeah, it was formally used as a shop! Its lined inside, a bit like an old thruppeny bit so will keep some warmth in. I'll paint roller inside with white emulsion to help reflect light and to stop anything dropping onto my new paint It will be well ventilated; I dont quite fancy getting blasted up onto the moon

I've got some 8' flouresents so the lighting should be ok, all I need to source is a decent compressor and I'm ready to go. Oh, and an air fed mask. Decided upon painting in it 2-tone solid colour basecoat too; the brother in law will have to settle for a straight 2 pack

if its still frozen try undoing as many hoses as possible

you can try disconnecting the fan belt and fire it up for a minute or so to help thaw it .

once thawed i would bleed it up with water to save wateing antifreeze. if good then drain/antifreeze the syatem properly.

good chance to flush the system