Draining radiator... using antifreeze?

30-FordGuy

30-FordGuy

Junior Member
I have a two part question.
I am draining the radiator for the winter. My car is garage kept, but if it gets cold enough outside it could definitely freeze water inside. I opened up the petcock and let it drain. Is there anything else I should do to winterize it?
Two, a couple people told me to use antifreeze instead of water. Is that a good idea?
Any help or direction to other threads would be great... thanks!
Jon
 
I would add a 50/50 mix of water & anti-freeze to your radiator and Stabil(fuel stabilizer to your gasoline),

I happen to run my engine about 1/month just to hear the flathead run:)
 
I was also told 50/50 mix is a good idea. I drive my car 2/3 times a week for about 15 miles all winter as long as roads are dry with no salt visible.
 
Most of us have been using common ethylen glycol type antifreeze in our A's. That is they kind you find at Wal-Mart. and most parts houses - Prestone is one brand name.

Sierra Anti freeze has been almost impossible to find, especially in my part of the country. Sierra is chemically- propolene gycol- and is for Model A radiators at least non foaming. According to the store manager it is dog friendly, too.

I found it at our local ABC Auto Parts Supply. When I asked she looked it up in her computer and said they "had plenty in the main warehouse" - wherever that is.

So for all youse guys looking for Sierra ask at oyr ABC Auto Parts. One gallon was $15.00. Kinda high but worth it.
 
I just drained the water out of my A yesterday and refilled with 50-50 Ethylene Glycol and Water, and like Mitch above, will run it through the winter when there is no salt on the roads.

If you're going to put your car away and have no plans to run it until warm weather returns, and do not want to let it sit all winter with coolant in it, I would suggest draining the water, refilling with 50-50 antifreeze mix, run it until the engine is up to operating temperature ( or take it out for a drive), then drain the 50-50 and save it.

This way, any liquid remaining in the bottom of the radiator / water jackets after draining will not freeze.
 
Pet friendly, that's what I'm looking for. I've got a cat that loves the garage but have been afraid to use anti freeze because of that. I'll check out O'Rielly's today.
Thanks Denis.
 
IMO, I do not know why a person would not use a 50/50 water/antifreeze mix year round. Higher boiling point....freeze protection......rust inhibitor. If you are concerned about overflow on hot days, draining out the overflow tube into the environment, install a inexpensive overflow expansion tank. Once a week or so, you can dump the excess from the tank back into the radiator. That way you don't have to worry about a positive seal on the Quail or Motometer, to ensure suck back, when the engine cools. Easy to remove when entering competitions.

I prefer to use distilled water with anti-freeze, rather than plain tap water or well water, due to the disolved solids in this type of water. Never again will I run just straight city or tap water. Water/Weter good idea also.
 
First of all... THANKS for all the great feedback! Wow! Very, very helpful.

Okay, so I drained it last night. I think tonight, my plan is, to fill it 50/50 with Prestone and water. Distilled water. Now, when I fill it (get ready for a dumb question) - how much do I put in. I don't think it's wise to go right to the brim, right?

If I do that, on hot days, it will overflow and spill all over, right? I bought the Les Andrews book on Model A's, so maybe it will tell me in there how much to put in?

Throughout the winter, I will start the car up, maybe once every two weeks, and just let it run for about 10 minutes. Let it warm up, idle for a bit, then shut the gas off and let it stop by itself... Sounds like a plan. Good plan or not? :confused:

So I think I'm gettin' it... Is fuel stabilizer a good idea all the time, or just when it is going to sit idle for a long period of time?

Thanks again...!
Jon
 
I only buy the real gas (no ethanol) for my Model A and small engines. I put 2 1/2 gallons of coolant into my Model A. That brings it to just over the top of the tubes. Do not fill to the brim, or you'll be loosing (wasting) a lot of it.

I park my Model A as soon as salt hits the roads, and don't touch the car again until a couple good rains have washed all the salt off the roads. That might be as long as 6 months. There is no need to run the engine throughout the winter, and 10 minutes isn't long enough to get rid of the condensation from running a cold engine.
 
Just to make sure, when you say 2.5 gallons of coolant, you mean 1.25 gallons of coolant and 1.25 gallons of water? Or 2.5 gallons of coolant and 2.5 gallons of water? Or do you just use 100% coolant?
 
"Throughout the winter, I will start the car up, maybe once every two weeks, and just let it run for about 10 minutes. Let it warm up, idle for a bit, then shut the gas off and let it stop by itself... Sounds like a plan. Good plan or not? :confused:"

I do not believe that you have a "good plan". I believe short engine runs are harder on the engine than not running it at all. It takes a lot more than ten minutes to warm the oil up to the point where any contaminants are vaporized. If your are going to run it at all, take it out on the road at an appropriate time and give it a good exercise. Gar Williams
 
Propylene glycol is safe for everybody. It is the ingredient in one of the "cocktails" they have you drink before a colonoscopy. Ask for Bourbon flavor!:eek:
 
I parked mine early october, drained all the water out of it and let it sit for 2 weeks in the garage. As soon as it got colder I went and got pre mixed antifree and poured it in and let it sit in the block for a few hours and redrained it. I believe it's over kill but I guess you never know. better to be safe than sorry. I won't start the car back up until its a good temp in the spring.

Justin
 
30-FordGuy said:
Just to make sure, when you say 2.5 gallons of coolant, you mean 1.25 gallons of coolant and 1.25 gallons of water? Or 2.5 gallons of coolant and 2.5 gallons of water? Or do you just use 100% coolant?
Click to expand...

I use 5 quarts of antifreeze and 5 quarts of water. Actually I probably have 6 quarts of antifreeze and 4 quarts of water. Anyway, it's 10 quarts total to bring it just over the tubes.

I use a 160* thermostat and leave the coolant in year round.
 
kenparker said:
Most of us have been using common ethylen glycol type antifreeze in our A's. That is they kind you find at Wal-Mart. and most parts houses - Prestone is one brand name.

Sierra Anti freeze has been almost impossible to find, especially in my part of the country. Sierra is chemically- propolene gycol- and is for Model A radiators at least non foaming. According to the store manager it is dog friendly, too.

I found it at our local ABC Auto Parts Supply. When I asked she looked it up in her computer and said they "had plenty in the main warehouse" - wherever that is.

So for all youse guys looking for Sierra ask at oyr ABC Auto Parts. One gallon was $15.00. Kinda high but worth it.
Click to expand...


I had my local ACE Hardware order Sierra and its $12 per gallon on Long Island, NY, which is fairly comparable to Prestone, yet the Sierra is supposed to be non-foaming and supposed to be safe for a dog to lick up if it drains while parked or whenever.
 
a word of warning on my sport coupe 3 years ago i opened the petcock to let it drain before driveing it in my storeing bulding went did something else came back drove it in building next spring got ready to bring home head was busted drain plug stoped up and did not drain but just a little water good reason for useing antifreez
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top