PROTECT YOUR CAR FROM THE COLD

[ShadowBolt]

Make sure to protect your race car this Thursday and Friday. Georgetown's low for Friday morning is supposed to be 17 degrees. You N. Texas guys could see even colder temps. It would suck to screw up a motor to the cold.

JJ

[mitchntx]

I have one of these.

Works great!

http://www.amazon.com/Kats-1153-Handi-Heat-Magnetic-Heater/dp/B000BOABS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1262618874&sr=8-1


Also available at Northern Tool ...

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200339105_200339105

[ShadowBolt]

I have one of these.

Works great!

http://www.amazon.com/Kats-1153-Handi-Heat-Magnetic-Heater/dp/B000BOABS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1262618874&sr=8-1


Also available at Northern Tool ...

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200339105_200339105

Steve got me one of those from Tractor Supply. I tried to find them but they were sold out. Steve got mine on close-out in San Antonio.

Mitch,

If you stick it to one side of the block will it protect all the rest of the motor? I have never used mine in such cold weather.


JJ

[AllZWay]

I am probably just going to have to break a rule and put in some antifreeze until it warms up.

[mitchntx]

Jerry, it's all I have used the last couple of years. I attach it to a flat portion of the block in November and leave it going 24/7. My infrared gun says 325* on the heater and about 150* at the spot it was attached. Temps drop off considerably 12" away, obviously measured on the outside walls.

I figure on those nice 60* days, it heats the interior block enough to fend off these 24hr blasts with the heater attached, coupled with residual heat.

I also have an insulated shop. So there is usually about a 10* delta from ambient. Yesterday, it was colder inside the shop than it was outside at 3pm.

[Wirtz]

I just pull mine into the living room. Keeps it nice and warm and lets me watch my soaps while I wax it.

[mitchntx]

I just pull mine into the living room. Keeps it nice and warm and lets me watch my soaps while I wax it.

Go ahead ... make a joke ... I witnessed the ULTIMATE yesterday.

Mike was using Armor All on his body plugs.

Nuttin' but lub, Mikey ... :wink:

[Al Fernandez]

Jeff I'm bummed to hear your car has been downgraded to the living room. Back in the day it would've been in the bedroom... :lol:

[Wirtz]

Sorry, don't know what to say. Still stunned I never thought to clean my body plugs that way :(

[Crumpacker]

why worry about block heater effectiveness when you could go my route?

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af110/samcrumpacker/block.jpg

[Alien]

Is that red rag legal?

[mitchntx]

I am probably just going to have to break a rule and put in some antifreeze until it warms up.

10% antifreeze is supposed to be good to 20* or so ...

[Todd Covini]

There will be anti-freeze sniffers at Round 1.
If any of you so much as have anti-freeze residue on the underside of your cap, you're DQ'd...pack your bags...take it home.

Kidding aside...inline with Sam's picture, is there anyone who subscribes to the idea that if you open the system (i.e.- leave the cap off overnite) that it will pretty much do away with the chance of any freezing causing damage by giving the ice a place to expand to.

It's been a while since I've lived in New England and Thermodynamics wasn't my best course...but I seem to remember the old "leave the cap off" myth.

Where's Richard Pederson with some tech when you need him!!!

[MikeP99Z]

Go ahead ... make a joke ... I witnessed the ULTIMATE yesterday.

Mike was using Armor All on his body plugs.

Nuttin' but lub, Mikey ... :wink:

I've got alot of cleaning, buffing, and waxing to do. Had to start from the bottom up with the body plugs. Next is using the Armor All Q-tips on the dash board vents.

AI is all for show Mitch

:D

Antifreeze went in the car tonight.

[RichardP]

OK, this is a pain in the ass. Normally Houston just gets little overnight freezes that aren't anything to worry about. Apparently this week is a bigger deal with up to 48 hours below freezing.

My race car is in a tin shed with no power available. I was going to put antifreeze in it but it's completely dead from neglect so there is no way to circulate the coolant. I punted and drained coolant out. Hopefully that's good enough.

The Orange thing is supposed to be on an open trailer Friday evening in preparation for dyno day on Saturday. It's predicted to be 20 degrees here Saturday morning. It's hard to hide from the cold on an open trailer. I think I'm just going to blow off the dyno since there will be no tech there anyway.

Richard P.

[Al Fernandez]

Todd, the logic would work assuming everything cools at the same rate and you dont generate an effective freeze plug between the vent and wherever water remains. I wouldnt take that risk.

I just turned the heater on and set it to 60 overnight (lowest setting). Besides, I have to work in there all this week. :wink:

[Fbody383]

why worry about block heater effectiveness when you could go my route?

Yeah, baby! Somebody who's dug a deeper hole than me.

[mitchntx]

why worry about block heater effectiveness when you could go my route?

Yeah, baby! Somebody who's dug a deeper hole than me.


As long as it's below the frost line, you should be OK.