HELP!!! Any mechanics in here?

[Magus]

It dawned on me last night that in all the rush, I didn't update my antifreeze! Well, I got up early this morning and fired the old Blazer up, it started fine and ran for maybe twenty minutes, just as I was going out to go, I heard a loud pop, I ran out to see what happened and there was steam everywhere! I turned it off (It was still running.) and there it sits. what do y'all think? freeze plug or hose? either way I'm screwed.

 

[INresponse]

Hopefully it is a hose. Can you see where the coolant is leaking from? If it is up front you might be lucky, if it is from the side of the engine block it may be a freeze plug. Either way, find a way to warm it slowly. Any way to get it into a garage or enclosed parking area? Aim a heater towards the engine area to warm it up. You can still drive it a short distance to move it, just don't run the engine longer than necessary.
Hoping for the best. It may not have cracked the block or head.

 

[UrbanHunter]

I would open the hood this morning and look for where the coolant is leaking or has collected, you may need to remove the radiator cap and pour a gallon of tap water into it to find the leak. Filling the reservoir will not help, because the pressure difference between the tank and the radiator is what draws the coolant into the system and with a leaking system there is no pressure difference. Once you have identified where the leak is you can try to formulate a solution. You may be lucky and find a blown heater hose, either way you will need to figure out what caused the high pressure resulting in the blow out.

I would definitely add coolant or water before re-starting the beast...

 

[Magus]

I popped the hood as soon as I got out there, there was water all over the top of the motor and dripping from the hood. unfortunately I have no garage to park it in. I'm thinking this white elephant will be the death of me. I can't do anything repair wise until the 3rd. some Xmas present.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Sounds like you lucked out and just blew a hose. If it was a freeze plug the coolant would most likely be down on the side of the engine, not on top. I would never put plain tap water in an engine, always pure anti freeze/coolant good down to -35.

 

[Wingnut]

Or in warmer climes, distilled water...

 

[Mountain trapper]

This little cold snap should be a wakeup call for people who live in areas that normally don't get cold weather. Anti freeze isn't just for cold weather, is also a summer coolant.

 

[FarmOR]

Many modern vehicles have plastic radiators. Or plastic thermostat housing. I learned those the hard way in a similar situation that you described. Plastic can only go through so many thermal cycles before it fails suddenly and catastrophically.

 

[Magus]

I had to replace the radiator last spring. hence the weak antifreeze.
All on me, I forgot all about it until there was no more antifreeze.

 

[UrbanHunter]

I prefer to find and fix the leak with water, once the leak is repaired, I would run it for a while to verify it is operating properly, then drain the cooling system completely and fill with the proper coolant mix.

The thought of adding anti-freeze to find a coolant leak makes me think of burning $100 bills to light a candle....

 

[Magus]

At $20+ a gall0n, it almost is!

 

[Mountain trapper]

I prefer to find and fix the leak with water, once the leak is repaired, I would run it for a while to verify it is operating properly, then drain the cooling system completely and fill with the proper coolant mix.

The thought of adding anti-freeze to find a coolant leak makes me think of burning $100 bills to light a candle....

I guess I'm used to working in below freezing temps. A little lost anti freeze is cheap insurance to find a leak.

 

[UrbanHunter]

I guess I'm used to working in below freezing temps. A little lost anti freeze is cheap insurance to find a leak.

I guess you are right there, but if you are in an area where it gets above freezing in the daytime and you are not planning to leave the water in the system over night you can get away with using water to check for leaks. But once the leak is located and repaired drain the water and replace with coolant. If it is really cold(<15F) and you let the engine cool down with water in it you will blow your freeze plugs (or worse) and that can be an expensive mess.

My advice is find the leak as fast as you can, repair it, refill the cooling system and run the engine with the heater on checking for additional leaks, drain the cooling system and replace with proper coolant/anti-freeze. I would try to do it as quickly as possible, preferably in 1 day and DO NOT let pure water sit in the engine over night....

I personally would gather my supplies, hose clamps, anti-freeze, and if you can identify the leaking part have the replacement parts/hose(s) at the ready before I started tearing into it.... If you don't have a second vehicle (to run for parts in) reach out to a friend with a vehicle for assistance so you are not stranded.


@Magus said he just had the radiator replaced so I am assuming that they replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses at that time, if that is the case the most likely offender is a heater hose.
Then again, if someone else did the work they may not have tightened down a hose clamp and the hose just blew off.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I guess you are right there, but if you are in an area where it gets above freezing in the daytime and you are not planning to leave the water in the system over night you can get away with using water to check for leaks. But once the leak is located and repaired drain the water and replace with coolant. If it is really cold(<15F) and you let the engine cool down with water in it you will blow your freeze plugs (or worse) and that can be an expensive mess.

My advice is find the leak as fast as you can, repair it, refill the cooling system and run the engine with the heater on checking for additional leaks, drain the cooling system and replace with proper coolant/anti-freeze. I would try to do it as quickly as possible, preferably in 1 day and DO NOT let pure water sit in the engine over night....

I personally would gather my supplies, hose clamps, anti-freeze, and if you can identify the leaking part have the replacement parts/hose(s) at the ready before I started tearing into it.... If you don't have a second vehicle (to run for parts in) reach out to a friend with a vehicle for assistance so you are not stranded.


@Magus said he just had the radiator replaced so I am assuming that they replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses at that time, if that is the case the most likely offender is a heater hose.
Then again, if someone else did the work they may not have tightened down a hose clamp and the hose just blew off.

You're absolutely right for a warmer climate. Where I live we haven't had a day above freezing since late October. I've got a lot of equipment here to maintain so I have many gallons of anti freeze on hand. Also, make sure that the anti freeze that you use is compatible to your vehicle.
As someone mentioned above, if you're going to use water in your engine, make sure to use distilled water. Tap water could leave deposits in your cooling system.

 

[Magus]

Whatever the issue, its going to have to sit until it gets above freezing.
I have a feeling my ride is screwed.

 

[Magus]

if someone else did the work they may not have tightened down a hose clamp and the hose just blew off.

I can only hope.

 

[UrbanHunter]

I'll be praying for you @Magus and your vehicle's quick recovery. I know you don't believe, but positive vibes can only help... Who knows maybe your ride is a believer, or a Cristine....

Stay safe and warm my friend

 

[montanabill]

We once had a old subaru blessed by a Navaho medicine man. It's probably still running out there somewhere.

I once froze up the company truck...it didn't have enough antifreeze in the mix and it stuck the water pump with ice. I started it and the fan belt started smoking. Thawed it out, replaced the belt and the antifreeze and it was as good as new.

One time on a motorcycle trip down I-5 in california in the summer I stopped at a rest area to try to cool down. A guy pulled in next to me and opened the hood of his car and a hose blew and cascaded a stream of hot rusty water up in the air and directly onto my loaded bike. I am kinda big and the guy was kinda small and the look on his face was a story of fear/trepidation/where can I run. I just laughed and thanked him for the first wash job my bike had had that year.

These stories are just a bit about life and things can happen when you least expect it but the story goes on..

 

[Frodo]

Got any pvc pipe stashed away?
4-20’ sticks
4- 12’ sticks
3- 10’ sticks
8- 90’s
Visqueen / duck tape/ zip ties

Put a 90 on both ends of the 12’a
Bend the 20’ in a u shape, gluei into the 90’s
Stand these up
On the sides and top zip tie the 10’ pieces to the structure to stableise

Cover with visqueen. And put a heater in it
It will be warm enough to thaw it out and allow you to work on the car

You may have to remove snow as needed from the top

 

[FarmOR]

@Frodo that's a great idea. I've had to make makeshift forts like that to do repairs in winter. Never thought of making frame with pvc.

Last year I had a fort like that to replace a wheel bearing on a front wheel drive car. Made the process quite comfortable right up to the moment that I broke my nose.

Long story. My impact failed to break loose the axle bolt. Had to go to plan B. Jammed the disc with a pry bar in order to break the axle nut loose with a breaker bar + cheater pipe. When the dang pry bar slipped under pressure, I broke my fall with the bridge of my nose on the car fender. Happened so fast, didn't see it coming. In fact, didn't quite see straight for awhile after!

 

[Magus]

Got any pvc pipe stashed away?
4-20’ sticks
4- 12’ sticks
3- 10’ sticks
8- 90’s
Visqueen / duck tape/ zip ties

Put a 90 on both ends of the 12’a
Bend the 20’ in a u shape, gluei into the 90’s
Stand these up
On the sides and top zip tie the 10’ pieces to the structure to stableise

Cover with visqueen. And put a heater in it
It will be warm enough to thaw it out and allow you to work on the car

You may have to remove snow as needed from the top

I got none of that, not even the snow, BUT you gave me an idea, I have some tent poles I saved to make arrows out of because they were carbon fiber, I might have enough to make a tipi over the front.

 

[Bluetick21]

Same thing happened to my jeep 2 days ago. The temperature was as fluctuating back and forth and had no heat.
Got home to steam boiling from under the hood.
But I think I’ve gotten lucky the pressure build up popped the radiator cap loose. I have yet to test that. Going to get some antifreeze tomorrow to fill up and try it out

 

[montanabill]

I have one of these parabolic heaters that I picked up at a yard sale during the summer (same time I buy winter coats and sleeping bags). It works by direct radiation not heating all the air.
https://www.amazon.com/Soleus-Oscil...rabolic+electric+heaters,aps,223&sr=8-77&th=1
The other thing is a fabric garage. They cost less than a couple hours in a auto shop. Just be forewarned if you put one up the wind will start to blow and carry it away.
https://www.harborfreight.com/10-ft-x-17-ft-portable-car-canopy-62860.html

 

[UrbanHunter]

I have used a dining fly over the front of the car with tarps tied to the legs and up under the lip of the tarp. It kept the wind and rain off my back so I do some major work using a drop light... It was still cold, but it was doable. Do you have a friend with a dining fly that you could borrow?

I hope @Magus and @Bluetick21 are able to get your vehicles repaired and can start the new year on a positive note....

 

[Frodo]

I feel fr you
My Christmas gift to my wife this year is a $300 alternator and a $150.00 heating unit repair bill

 

[Frodo]

I your tent poles do not work look in the woods for a few youngster saplings.

 

[Bluetick21]

I have used a dining fly over the front of the car with tarps tied to the legs and up under the lip of the tarp. It kept the wind and rain off my back so I do some major work using a drop light... It was still cold, but it was doable. Do you have a friend with a dining fly that you could borrow?

I hope @Magus and @Bluetick21 are able to get your vehicles repaired and can start the new year on a positive note....

I should have everything running as it should tomorrow for sure Thank you!

 

[PopPopT]

I have a feeling my ride is screwed.

Maybe not. Since you heard it happen, you didn't let the thing overheat dramatically. It's just a matter of figuring out what busted loose. Never know, just some pokin' around, following hoses under the hood from place to place, squeezin' 'em a little to see if you find something obviously split or cracked, you might figure it out more easily than you give yourself credit for.

When you do figure it out, please do update. Some of us love a good puzzler so it's nice to know how it turns out.

 

[Magus]

Will do, that looks to be Wednesday at the earliest. that thing just keeps costing me money! the damn door is about to fall off because the tin around the hinge is ripping out and it's too thin to weld.

 

[Frodo]

Check freeze plugs