• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

I'm A Nube Moron..

  • Thread starter Thread starter jcgafford
  • Start date Start date Nov 25, 2013

jcgafford

10 Year Member
Jan 7, 2012
1,114
95
104
Adrian, MI
Nov 25, 2013
#1
  • Nov 25, 2013
  • #1
drained the coolant system to replace water pump gaskets this fall. have not touched car since. forgot that i filled it with plain old water to test for leaks. fast forward to today. went out to finally put stabil in and yeah she is frozen. while heating the garage might be doable i am thinking of draining the radiator and adding hot water and antifreeze in to "thaw" it. I feel like an idiot. Any suggestions? radiator is still water not ice but coolant lines seem frozen. started it before checking and water pump turns fine, temp reading shot right up to high mark so i am sure lines are frozen.
 

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
3,254
204
South Jersey
Nov 25, 2013
#2
  • Nov 25, 2013
  • #2
Doesn't sound good but really doesn't sound that bad either. I would be worried about the radiator first since it is most fragile and will rupture first. Short of that if you didn't break the impeller off the water pump or lose a freeze out plug you will more than likely be ok...
 

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
3,254
204
South Jersey
Nov 25, 2013
#3
  • Nov 25, 2013
  • #3
Side note- It was 18 degrees last night and my car was sitting in an unheated garage. I realized about 10:00pm that the a2w intercooler still had water in it. with the car in so many pieces and no antifreeze on hand I had to take the dash out of my car (it's mounted under the dash) to remove it last night otherwise it could have been ugly. You aren't the only one that forgot about the cold weather sneaking in.
 

jcgafford

10 Year Member
Jan 7, 2012
1,114
95
104
Adrian, MI
Nov 25, 2013
#4
  • Nov 25, 2013
  • #4
well i won't feel better till water circulates and the temp guage reads normal. has to wait till 4pm. i'm a single dad till then.
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Nov 25, 2013
#5
  • Nov 25, 2013
  • #5
I would not try and start anything until you are certain the system is thawed out. stick a heater in the garage. Use a hair dryer and thaw out the radiator, hoses, and under the engine. Then open up the petcock and flush out the system with fresh water.

Another reason why I live in Florida.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
42,966
21,142
234
Box behind Walmart
Nov 25, 2013
#6
  • Nov 25, 2013
  • #6
A desk lamp with a hundred watt bulb, shining on the radiator and block, will thaw the whole thing overnight.

Jamb the lamp down in there and close the hood.
 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
8,914
1,332
204
a van down by the river
Nov 25, 2013
#7
  • Nov 25, 2013
  • #7
they still make them things?
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Nov 26, 2013
#8
  • Nov 26, 2013
  • #8
Noobz347 said:
A desk lamp with a hundred watt bulb, shining on the radiator and block, will thaw the whole thing overnight.

Jamb the lamp down in there and close the hood.
Click to expand...


I envision Mrs. Noobz coming home and going into the room where the desk lamp should have been and then asking Mr. Noobz- "You did WHAT with my lamp?"
 

90lxwhite

I'm kind of a She-Man
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2011
3,310
374
134
Between the Red and Rio
Nov 26, 2013
#9
  • Nov 26, 2013
  • #9
84Ttop said:
Side note- It was 18 degrees last night and my car was sitting in an unheated garage. I realized about 10:00pm that the a2w intercooler still had water in it. with the car in so many pieces and no antifreeze on hand I had to take the dash out of my car (it's mounted under the dash) to remove it last night otherwise it could have been ugly. You aren't the only one that forgot about the cold weather sneaking in.
Click to expand...
Damn, 18 deg..... I do not miss that. Where are you from?
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Nov 26, 2013
#10
  • Nov 26, 2013
  • #10
90lxwhite said:
Damn, 18 deg..... I do not miss that. Where are you from?
Click to expand...

ahem......

View attachment 122129
jcgafford
Location:
Adrian, MI
 

90lxwhite

I'm kind of a She-Man
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2011
3,310
374
134
Between the Red and Rio
Nov 26, 2013
#11
  • Nov 26, 2013
  • #11
mikestang63 said:
ahem......

View attachment 122126
jcgafford
Location:
Adrian, MI
Click to expand...
Yeah yeah
 

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
3,254
204
South Jersey
Nov 26, 2013
#12
  • Nov 26, 2013
  • #12
90lxwhite said:
Damn, 18 deg..... I do not miss that. Where are you from?
Click to expand...
South New Jersey and before ask, there is a difference lol
 

90lxwhite

I'm kind of a She-Man
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2011
3,310
374
134
Between the Red and Rio
Nov 26, 2013
#13
  • Nov 26, 2013
  • #13
84Ttop said:
South New Jersey and before ask, there is a difference lol
Click to expand...
I went once w a guy I was stationed w in VA. I think it was exit 10, Elizabeth maybe??? That kinda sounds familiar, 'twas eons ago.
 

jcgafford

10 Year Member
Jan 7, 2012
1,114
95
104
Adrian, MI
Nov 26, 2013
#14
  • Nov 26, 2013
  • #14
It was 11 sunday morning in the treestand with 20 mph winds. 18 was kinda warm after that
 

jcgafford

10 Year Member
Jan 7, 2012
1,114
95
104
Adrian, MI
Nov 29, 2013
#15
  • Nov 29, 2013
  • #15
Fixed. No breaks no leaks. Dodged a bullet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Engine Themostat
  • Mindseye007
  • Jan 30, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
678
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 1, 2026
86HO5.0
8
O
2001 mustang gt overheating
  • orinsmiley11
  • Jul 17, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
286
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Jul 17, 2025
Noobz347
S
Fuel ‘88 GT Runs Rich Cold — Fixes Itself When I Unplug Sensors (ECT, MAF, O2, etc.)
  • Sufarry
  • Nov 6, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
12
Views
762
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 9, 2025
Mustang5L5
Drivetrain 83’ Glx convertible C5 Trans help!
  • JacksonJared2113
  • Dec 25, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
354
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Dec 26, 2025
JacksonJared2113
1
Engine Motor swap from a 2003 Explorer
  • 1996mustang new
  • Oct 9, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
549
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Oct 16, 2025
squeak93
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?