Radiator - fall preparation

[Nlbloch]

Sadly, I didn't get to drive the Model A this summer as much as I would have liked. As I think about getting the car ready for winter storage (I'm in Chicago -- it could snow tomorrow!) I wonder about flushing the radiator either with plain clean water, or with a commercial rust flush.

Questions:
If commercial flush, what do you recommend?

Does it make sense to do this in the Fall as well as Spring?

If I follow up with a rust inhibitor, should I add in Fall or wait until Spring?

I replaced my radiator about 10 years ago due to clogged pipes, and I hope to never do that again!

Any other radiator tips gladly accepted!

Thank you,
Nathan

 

[nkaminar]

Here is my suggestion: Move to Florida.

 

[1crosscut]

Nathan -if you have a 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water you do not need to do anything except to use a squeeze bulb type tester to make sure the freeze protection is at -34 degrees.

If you are not using the 50/50 mix I would suggest flushing it out with water and then putting in a 50/50 mix. No more clogged tubes and no worries about things freezing.

 

[Bob Bidonde]

If you are going to store your "A" for the winter do:
> Run the engine with the gasoline shut off to empty the carburetor of gasoline;
> Check & replenish the anti-freeze of drain the cooling system dry;
> Fill the gas tank to avoid the buildup of condensation;
> Do maintenance & mods to prep your "A" for next season's activities;
> Make the tire pressure 35 PSIG for storage & lower it to the rating on the tire sidewall when the touring season arrives.

 

[nkaminar]

To add to Bob's excellent list, put the car on jackstands to keep the tires from getting a flat spots.

 

[gdmn852]

Hello, cooling system should be good with antifreeze, might want to get some mouse repellent,they like to chew wires and upholstery.A friend of mine had a whole procedure, would get aluminum cooking pans jack the car up remove wheels,have jack stands on frame and the stands sitting in the aluminum pans filled with moth balls .Somewhat of an overkill but car didn’t smell of mothballs and no mouse activity.

 

[mleder]

I have one more tip for storage after running the carburetor dry - shut off valves are prone to leak, so what I do is put on a pair of throw away rubber gloves, I then disconnect the fuel line at the carburetor and loosen it at the firewall glass bowl or cast sediment bowl, now rotate the line vertical and retighten at firewall location. Slip off your gloves and stretch one over the carburetor opening and place the other one on the vertical line's opening and secure with electrical tape. Now you don't need to worry about 10 gallons of gas accumulating on the floor. Takes minimal time.

 

[Kurt in NJ]

can you tell which one had antifreeze for the last 40 years?

 

[ModelA29]

If you will not be driving it at all.
Drain the coolant - make sure you get all of it.
Run the carb dry. Drain the gas tank - use it in your daily driver. You'd be surprised how fast new gas goes bad with all its additives.
Jack stands are an outstanding idea.
Putting a sheet of plastic on the ground also helps - there is a lot of moisture that can come up through the concrete.
Don't move to FL they have their own set of car storage problems. I recommend the desert southwest - AZ over CA in a heartbeat.