My coolant has turned to slush, what do I need to do?

[Kdubslugga]

Well Ive had my car in storage since november and just went to check on it and the coolant is slush. Its not frozen solid but its all slush. I have the supercharger off for rebuild and also the coolant rail off for powdercoating. What would do you guys suggest I do? Put it back together and fire it up or just leave it alone until warm weather. Temps have been bitter last couple of nights around 0 here in Ohio but forecast for Monday calls for mid 40s. Id dunno what to do to avoid disaster?

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

I'd drain the system, personally. A 50/50 mix of antifreeze should protect to something like -20°F. You shouldn't be seeing any slush at all until you get down that low. If if were to freeze, well I think you're aware that the hydraulic effect could, at worst crack your block/heads/intake, or it could just all push out into the radiator, at best. I wouldn't want to take the chance, you probably spent quite a bit on the parts in your signature.

 

[ID89GT]

Leave the cap off so it has room to expand

 

[Kdubslugga]

I must have gotten the mixture wrong or something. I dunno. But the cap is off and im gonna leave the coolant rail off as well. I freakin hate cold weather.

 

[90lxcoupe]

i would drain the block

 

[Rick 91GT]

i would drain the block

Yeah if it freezes and your lucky it will just push a freeze plug out, but Ive heard of guys busting DART blocks if it freezes, the power of ICE is incredible.

You could drain the block, but if your worried about the heater core etc your going to need to circulate it through the system...

 

[90lxcoupe]

I saw a thread somwhere about a guy splitting a dart block, and i was expecting something crazy, but it was because it froze. Thats the most uncool way to break a dart block ever

 

[Kdubslugga]

I saw a thread somwhere about a guy splitting a dart block, and i was expecting something crazy, but it was because it froze. Thats the most uncool way to break a dart block ever

Wow, I think I'd just give up after that.

Well good news I got it fixed. I drained what i could and turns out it wasnt all slush, Only what was visable was slush. But anyway I filled the radiator up with hot water, ran it up to operating temp. Drained that out and filled it up with pre mixed 50/50 coolant. Man when I saw that coolant all slushy looking i was about to lose it, I just saw cracked blocked, cracked heads, destroyed radiator. Well needless to say I learned my lesson on this one, thanks for the tips guys

 

[stykthyn]

Block heater?

 

[f8tlfiveo]

Next time you check coolant buy a gauge for under 10$ to check how cold your coolant can get before freezing..I had this problem once, learned my lesson.. Didn't break anything but not a good situation..

 

[Mustang5L5]

I should go check mine...it's been down to -10 at night. Hopefully I'm still good

 

[90lxcoupe]

agreed, freezing here in mass