Draining coolant from a 1.6 focus

Clarkey · 1 Jan 2011 at 18:33

I've got a mates focus dumped on my drive now, it's got cooling system issues and as such it's now just got straight water in it. It's supposed to drop to -4 tonight which could be a problem. Is there a drain plug on the engine block? It's a mk1 1.6 btw.

Fuzz · 1 Jan 2011 at 18:37

Why not just put some antifreeze in it

Defcon5 · 1 Jan 2011 at 18:46

^ Yeah, just syphon off a litre and refill with concentrate

wassap · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:03

Defcon5 said:
^ Yeah, just syphon off a litre and refill with concentrate

Yep and make sure you run it for a few mins to circulate it round the system.

Clarkey · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:25

No keys.

Defcon5 · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:26

Bottom hose of rad then, but it wont all come out unless you run the pump

atpbx · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:28

Defcon5 said:
Bottom hose of rad then, but it wont all come out unless you run the pump

He dosent need all of it out, it doesnt need to be anywhere near 100% antifreeze in there.

Lopéz · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:36

Clarkey said:
No keys.

How are you going to open the bonnet to work on it then?

Clarkey · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:38

Lopéz said:
How are you going to open the bonnet to work on it then?

I'm not, hence asking if there's a plug on the block, which will be underneath..

Defcon5 · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:39

atpbx said:
He dosent need all of it out, it doesnt need to be anywhere near 100% antifreeze in there.

He doesnt have the keys to the car, so he cant put antifreeze in it. Thus the only way to stop the water from freezing is to drain it out

Fuzz · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:42

Just chuck a full 5l of antifreeze in there it'll mix well enough.

Oh yea, no keys.

Find the bloody keys then or jemmy bar the bonnet open

Lopéz · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:42

Clarkey said:
I'm not, hence asking if there's a plug on the block, which will be underneath..

Gotcha. Don't know of a coolant drain on the Zetec so bottom rad hose it is.... assuming you can get to it.

Janesy B · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:44

How is he going to top up the coolant system without the bonnet being open?

Fuzz · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:45

Bottom rad hose will only empty the rad, not the block. Ideally need to have the thermostat out of it as well

Clarkey · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:47

Lopéz said:
Gotcha. Don't know of a coolant drain on the Zetec so bottom rad hose it is.... assuming you can get to it.

Yes that's easy, it will drain enough to stop it freezing in the block?

Scubascorpion said:
Bottom rad hose will only empty the rad, not the block. Ideally need to have the thermostat out of it as well

The stat housing is leaking like **** anyway, that's why it's dumped here.

Simon · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:48

Has it suddenly been filled up with water or something as it's been colder than this only a week ago, any damage will have been done by now surely?

Simon · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:49

Clarkey said:
Yes that's easy, it will drain enough to stop it freezing in the block?

No block will freeze but you'll give somewhere for the ice to go. Still a risk of cracking but much less than a full system. Especially as the block usually freezes last

Fuzz · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:54

Set it on fire. Won't freeze then.

or just put a small heater in the engine bay overnight

ShakenNstirred · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:56

has he left it without leaving the keys
its his problem if it freezes up

Clarkey · 1 Jan 2011 at 19:57

ShakenNstirred said:
if your mate is stupid enough to have just water in it in winter and has left it without leaving the keys
its his problem if it freezes up

glad i'm not friends with you then.