Temperature Warning!

flatheadfan

flatheadfan

Well-known member
I just checked the temperature in my barn where I have several cars (West Michigan). Using a thermal gun I got readings of -15.F on the engines. This is getting close to my antifreeze protection level. As I understand, it is suppose to get even colder over the next few days. If you also live it the "tundra" zone it probably wouldn't hurt to recheck things. There could be a lot of downside if you don't. :eek:

Tom
 
flatheadfan said:
I just checked the temperature in my barn where I have several cars (West Michigan). Using a thermal gun I got readings of -15.F on the engines. This is getting close to my antifreeze protection level. As I understand, it is suppose to get even colder over the next few days. If you also live it the "tundra" zone it probably wouldn't hurt to recheck things. There could be a lot of downside if you don't. :eek:

Tom
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Thank you for the information you provide here sir :)


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I've got a friend who keps his car in his heated garage with no anti freeze in it. You guessed it, the furnace failed and he ended up with a cracked block - both pan rails. My cars are in a heated garage, but always get anti-freeze in the winter.
 
I have my cars in an insulated storage building with no heat 20 miles NORTH of Brainerd, MN. I am in Florida for the winter, and when I saw the forecast for low temps near -30 (no, not wind chill), I had a friend check my unit regularly. He says he has never seen below zero temperatures inside the building, which is only about 5 years old. I've known him about 40 years, so I think I can trust him. Gives you something to think about, though.
 
flatheadfan said:
I just checked the temperature in my barn where I have several cars (West Michigan). Using a thermal gun I got readings of -15.F on the engines. This is getting close to my antifreeze protection level......:eek:.....Tom
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A 50/50 (Prestone) mix should be good for -34 degrees. :)
 
Last fall I checked my cars anti-freeze with a new cheap pocket tester and found my `35 checked around +15 degrees. I had to drain some coolant out to make room for new anti-freeze. I saved a cup of the old anti-freeze and for grins I put it in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator I have in the garage. I didn't check but assumed (yeah I know) the temp is maintained at around zero. The anti-freeze in the cup never did freeze or even turn mushy.
 
tubman said:
I have my cars in an insulated storage building with no heat 20 miles NORTH of Brainerd, MN. I am in Florida for the winter, and when I saw the forecast for low temps near -30 (no, not wind chill), I had a friend check my unit regularly. He says he has never seen below zero temperatures inside the building, which is only about 5 years old. I've known him about 40 years, so I think I can trust him. Gives you something to think about, though.
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Unless there is a heat source somewhere in the building, the insulation will just slow the drop to outside temperature. How much antifreeze are you running?
 
Ross,

I am running 50/50, so I should be OK. They have had a couple of days in the '30's there last week, so that should help. I would think that if the insulation is any good at all and the building is well sealed, the temperature inside should never get much below the average daily outside temp, which is about 12 degrees this time of year.
 
Shadetree said:
Last fall I checked my cars anti-freeze with a new cheap pocket tester and found my `35 checked around +15 degrees. I had to drain some coolant out to make room for new anti-freeze. I saved a cup of the old anti-freeze and for grins I put it in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator I have in the garage. I didn't check but assumed (yeah I know) the temp is maintained at around zero. The anti-freeze in the cup never did freeze or even turn mushy.
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Had to recheck your message. Thought you said you saved a cup of old anti freeze for "gins"....glad I rechecked it. First day of autumn here down at the *** end of the world and it is not warm. They say it will be colder than normal so after having a "warm winter" last year reckon we could be in for a colder one this year. Suppose we can be thankful it doesn't reach the sub zero temps you folk get.

GB
 
Shadetree said:
Last fall I checked my cars anti-freeze with a new cheap pocket tester and found my `35 checked around +15 degrees. I had to drain some coolant out to make room for new anti-freeze. I saved a cup of the old anti-freeze and for grins I put it in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator I have in the garage. I didn't check but assumed (yeah I know) the temp is maintained at around zero. The anti-freeze in the cup never did freeze or even turn mushy.
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My fridge/freezer runs at 20 below.
 
If you have a U-Haul company nearby, they have these relatively cheap mover blankets, you could drape them over the engine and tuck them down the sides of the engines, at this point nothing can hurt a little extra care. Uhaul furniture blanket pad 68" x 85" $7.95. These are the blue ones, a few years back also had these other ones gray in color were even cheaper but good for cold, I used them to cover my pool equipt. outside during a cold snap, probably no where near as cold as you are encountering, but like I said, can't hurt.
 
As Ross said above, insulation and blankets will only slow-down the movement of heat molecules toward the colder outside temps. DD
 
I feel for you folks in the cold weather, temp here today 30 deg C,over night in the shed 24 C.
In mid winter the coldest ever was 6.5 Deg C overnight.
Lawrie
 
If your storage has electricity, try hanging an incandescent light bulb under the engine and cover the hood with blankets. I have seen temps. of -5 with this and the plain water didn't freeze.
 
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