Hello.

We are getting below freeze temperatures here all night, and since im running on water not anti freeze (due leaks, i have to change the radiator, so antifreeze isnt an option till fixed)

So i figured id better remove all the water, but i have one question, should i remove the engine water also? (pointing the lower hose down so it drops due gravity) will i need to "bleed" or "purge" the system after i put more water if i do so?.

Thanks for your replies

 

how about you fix the rad and add some antifreeze and be done with it

 

I would, but this trucks needs other stuff repaired like the clutch first, and this radiator needs full replacing it cant be repaired, so i figured i could do this to avoid engine block breaking for this night.

 

Mix water and Vodka. vodka will lower the freezing temp of water and if need be you can drink it to make you feel better...

I think antifreeze would be cheaper though

 

I forgot to add i have no acces to anything(shops), im in a ranch and roads are closed due the very bad weather, so this looked like a quick fix.

 

Do you have a block heater on your truck? If so, it'll keep your coolant system from freezing up over night. If not, you can always throw an electric heater under the hood up against the engine and it should be ok too. Throw some cardboard over the grille or a blanket over the front clip to keep the warmth in; you don't need much, just enough to keep the block barely above freezing temps. LR

 

Nope i dont think it has a block heater

 

Pull the lower rad hose and you should be alright.
There should be a plug somewhere on the lower side of the block to drain it , but even if you find it , it may not want to come loose.
What temps are you expecting ?

 

yeah i did that, and -5Celcious (around 23F)

Thanks for the reply

 

My new truck has a block heater, but all my previous ones never did. A good heavy horse blanket over the front and an electric heater always kept the truck thawed out even down under 20*, unless there's a hard wind. It really doesn't take much to keep the block from freezing, but you definitely will do some sort of damage if it is left out unprotected in freezing temps for extended periods.

When I was living in Central BC where -40* temps were common, I used to leave a 1000w heater under the hood and a 500w heater in the cab. Sure was nice to get into at least a half-warm vehicle in the morning! Just gotta make sure to check well for cats sleeping in there in the morning though, they sure loved it too. LR

 

yeah put a heater under the hood to keep the block warm if not your block is going to freeze and bust are crack for that matter.. sense your runing just water it likes to freeze super fast.. i would just put some anitfreez in it and run it through the motor

 

Do you have any jbweld? If so use that to fix your rad and use antifreeze. My rad was leaking very badly (had to put water in everyday) it was cracked around the lower hose connection mixed up some jb weld and fixed the crack about a year and a half ago now only time i ever had to add coolant was when i changed it this year so far so good! If it starts leaking again ill just replace have the money to do so now did not then.

 

It has silycone all over the sides, and it leaks from there.