• From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Topic: Winter weather reminder

I tucked my crapcan away in the corner of the garage almost two weeks ago now and thought I wouldn't look at it again until spring, but this morning it hit me...  CRAP, I forgot to drain the radiator!  It looks like I will be crawling under the car this weekend to drain the water.  Hopefully I can get enough water out of the heater core as well.

So, if you get freezing weather, don't forget to drain your cooling system, heater core and engine.

BRE Datsun (Broke Racing Effluence) formerly Dawn of the Zed Racing
'74 260Z
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Jeff G 78's Website

  • From: Bloomington, IN
  • Registered: 2009-08-14
  • Posts: 1,525

Re: Winter weather reminder

I also did the same last week.  Had forgotten about it also.

Bloomington, IN
We'll bring Beer!  Motorsports
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Toothless Racing Deadbeats #110 2011 Summit Point (61st) Currently being rebuilt into the new car!
  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: Winter weather reminder

Check your block for drains, too. You can get your heater core ready by disconnecting a hose and blowing air ( I hand-seal it with a rag and use a blow gun) through the core....the water goes into the block where you can drain it. SOP up here.

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • From: Des Moines IA
  • Registered: 2009-06-08
  • Posts: 135

Re: Winter weather reminder

Our engine is blown I doubt there is much water left in it even if there is I dont think it is going to hurt us any.

Formerly an asshole driving an Infinity
Now just another cock with a Porsche
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the head's Website

  • From: SF Bay Area
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 146

Re: Winter weather reminder

Why not just add anti-freeze for the winter?

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OverStimulated's Website

  • From: Lost in the Rockies
  • Registered: 2009-10-06
  • Posts: 1,008

Re: Winter weather reminder

OverStimulated wrote:

Why not just add anti-freeze for the winter?

That's our SOP on our car. Andy figures that any little thing to slow the corrosion down is A Good Thing.

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cpchampion's Website

  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: Winter weather reminder

Draining is easier at this point for me.  To add coolant, I'd have to start it back up and the battery has already been removed and I'd have to buy coolant.  An empty system can't freeze, so that's good enough.

BRE Datsun (Broke Racing Effluence) formerly Dawn of the Zed Racing
'74 260Z
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/editpicture.php … 2559430584

Jeff G 78's Website

  • From: Davis, Ca
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 1,843

Re: Winter weather reminder

We're racing in winter weather, what's does 'tucking my crapcan away'  mean, I just don't understand. we're racing in a couple of weeks

Gosh, my business card says 'Tech Tyrant'
  • From: Long Beach, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-14
  • Posts: 294

Re: Winter weather reminder

Parking your car in southern California is another proven method, but does not prevent rust from skipping races.

-Kyle
Eyesore Racing
"That's probably wrong, but it's worth a shot."

wrappedinbacon's Website

  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: Winter weather reminder

You Cali dudes think you are sooooo damn funny.  Winter sucks and the last thing I need is to constantly hear how there is no winter in California!  tongue

BRE Datsun (Broke Racing Effluence) formerly Dawn of the Zed Racing
'74 260Z
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/editpicture.php … 2559430584

Jeff G 78's Website

  • From: Pleasanton, CA
  • Registered: 2009-09-02
  • Posts: 352

Re: Winter weather reminder

There's winter in cali, we just have to drive a few hours to get to it.  Or you could just head to the beach.

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craznoe's Website

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: Winter weather reminder

OverStimulated wrote:

Why not just add anti-freeze for the winter?

Because on some engines a leaky front cover or intake gasket can allow coolant to seep into the crankcase over time without you knowing. to be sure, you'd have to change oil before the first startup.

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • ronman
  • ronman
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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2009-09-15
  • Posts: 1,842

Re: Winter weather reminder

Jeff G 78 wrote:

You Cali dudes think you are sooooo damn funny.  Winter sucks and the last thing I need is to constantly hear how there is no winter in California!  tongue

There's no winter in Central Florida, either. In fact, we set our 11th record high temp for the month of October yesterday...

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  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: Winter weather reminder

Yeah, but if Al Gore's buddies keep raising the thermostat, you guys will be knee deep in sea water.  LOL

BRE Datsun (Broke Racing Effluence) formerly Dawn of the Zed Racing
'74 260Z
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Jeff G 78's Website

  • ronman
  • ronman
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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2009-09-15
  • Posts: 1,842

Re: Winter weather reminder

Nah, I'm like 55' ASL.

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Lackey-mechanic-whatever/NSF Racing
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  • From: Federal Way, WA
  • Registered: 2009-06-11
  • Posts: 333

Re: Winter weather reminder

Just remember that frozen engines aren't the only worry with a Lemons car in the winter. Here's hoping that everyone who's headed to Thunderhill stays safe!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wlgi4CdM40A/SVR2OsZDd_I/AAAAAAAAAFs/LbG319puj4Y/s320/IMG_1636.JPG

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  • Serj
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  • From: Cincinnati, OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,601

Re: Winter weather reminder

or CMP in feb. there be mountains in the way on that haul!

18 Reply by Bonedriver (edited by Bonedriver 2009-11-02 05:14 PM)

  • From: Charleston, SC
  • Registered: 2009-08-08
  • Posts: 466

Re: Winter weather reminder

From a local (somewhat - but I grew up 30 miles from there)

CMP in February is gonna be very cold - mostly in the high to mid 30's at night and 40's during the day - and WET. It's not the cold, but the humidity that will get ya.

For all you guys with now windshield, which includes us, it's gonna sux!!!

____________________________________
Always running on E \ ' ' ' ' F 
Speedycop and the Gang of Outlaws Official Ten+ Time Loser
Owner #132 Lancia/Toyota Beta/MR2 Scorpion

Bonedriver's Website

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: Winter weather reminder

Bonedriver wrote:

From a local (somewhat - but I grew up 30 miles from there)

CMP in February is gonna be very cold - mostly in the high to mid 30's at night and 40's during the day - and WET. It's not the cold, but the humidity that will get ya.

For all you guys with now windshield, which includes us, it's gonna sux!!!

You call that cold? It ain't cold 'till your spit hits the ground solid...

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • ronman
  • ronman
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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2009-09-15
  • Posts: 1,842

Re: Winter weather reminder

You hush, Jim. tongue
Don't you have an igloo to build or something?

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  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: Winter weather reminder

Keep in mind that summer tires are not designed to grip below about 40°F.  You might actually do better with performance all-season tires.

BRE Datsun (Broke Racing Effluence) formerly Dawn of the Zed Racing
'74 260Z
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Jeff G 78's Website

22 Reply by jimeditorial (edited by jimeditorial 2009-11-02 06:41 PM)

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: Winter weather reminder

ronman wrote:

You hush, Jim. tongue
Don't you have an igloo to build or something?

Ha! Been to Orlando in July....don't know how you people can breathe that air....last year we had three summer days in a row with highs in the high 80's and the city declared a "heat emergency" and opened "emergency cooling centres" to keep people from dropping in the streets. The elderly were warned not to overexert themselves.... although with climate change etc. I use the A/C in my F-150 by about 11:00AM in mid summer....gimme ice any day!

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....