Paranoid Radiator Question

harriw · 03-08-2009, 04:17 PM

Hey guys,

Paranoid rookie question - I've got the radiator drained while changing a thermostat ('94 ext cab. 4x4, 5spd behind 4.0 w/ AC), and it's looking like it's going to be a multiple day project.

Any concern over leaving the radiator drained for a few days? It's not gonna start rusting over in there while it's empty for just a few days, right (I suppose I could fill it with distilled water while I'm not working on it, but that's just a pain)? How should I leave it while I'm not there working on it? Draincock and cap both closed, or leave one or the other open?

Thanks a lot guys.

-Bill

martin · 03-08-2009, 04:35 PM

It won't make much difference, as long as you don't leave any liquid in it that will freeze, if it's being left outside.

86ford · 03-08-2009, 04:35 PM

Filling it with water only WILL blow freeze plugs in the motor if it drops below freezing for any significant period of time. Motors sit on engine stands for YEARS with no coolant in them. I can not come up with a single concern with leaving it empty.

86

Bent Bolt · 03-08-2009, 04:36 PM

It's fine empty.

harriw · 03-08-2009, 04:38 PM

Excellent - thanks guys.

-Bill

Nhaz · 03-08-2009, 10:48 PM

Never use pure distilled water in a antifreeze system. ever. Good for batteries. bad for Engines => Heck tap water is better then distilled.

And you shouldn't use pure tap water either => Distilled water is more reactive then regular water since its had most of anything its allready reacted with it Removed in the distillation process. which makes it so it will start eating things it comes into contact with.

Like engines. Not quickly but definitely. The only thing you should put into your coolant system is coolant or premixed coolant.

warrior24 · 03-08-2009, 11:12 PM

Hmm I don't always use distilled water but I thought you were supposed to use it. Here is what I found , now I am confused.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...1230644AAbCqcE

03-08-2009, 04:17 PM	#1
harriw Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Western NY Year: 1994 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT, ext. cab Engine: 4.0L Class: 4x4 Used For: Daily Driver Posts: 225 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Paranoid Radiator Question Hey guys, Paranoid rookie question - I've got the radiator drained while changing a thermostat ('94 ext cab. 4x4, 5spd behind 4.0 w/ AC), and it's looking like it's going to be a multiple day project. Any concern over leaving the radiator drained for a few days? It's not gonna start rusting over in there while it's empty for just a few days, right (I suppose I could fill it with distilled water while I'm not working on it, but that's just a pain)? How should I leave it while I'm not there working on it? Draincock and cap both closed, or leave one or the other open? Thanks a lot guys. -Bill __________________ Sorry for the corny avatar - I just happen to work on High Voltage Power Supplies for a living and couldn't pass it up.
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03-08-2009, 04:35 PM	#2
martin Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: St Bruno, Quebec Year: 1984 1991 Make: ford Model: b2 explorer Posts: 2,809 Rep Power: 20 iTrader: (0)	It won't make much difference, as long as you don't leave any liquid in it that will freeze, if it's being left outside.
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03-08-2009, 04:35 PM	#3
86ford Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: rocky river ohio Year: 1992 Make: FORD Model: Exploder Engine: 4.0, abused and misunderstood Class: 4x4 locked Used For: creating a need for a larger broken parts bin Posts: 1,462 Rep Power: 14 iTrader: (4)	Filling it with water only WILL blow freeze plugs in the motor if it drops below freezing for any significant period of time. Motors sit on engine stands for YEARS with no coolant in them. I can not come up with a single concern with leaving it empty. 86
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03-08-2009, 04:36 PM	#4
Bent Bolt Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Edmonton,AB Year: 1987 Make: Ford Model: Ranger STX Engine: Supercharged 4.0 SOHC Class: 4x4 Offroad Used For: Breaking parts , sitting in the back lot Posts: 1,423 Rep Power: 14 iTrader: (0)	It's fine empty. __________________ 87 Ranger , a bunch of stuff including a supercharged 4.0l SOHC and 35 x 14.5 x 15 Pitbull Maddog's. Woof ! Now with C5/C4 hybrid !
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03-08-2009, 04:38 PM	#5
harriw Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Western NY Year: 1994 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT, ext. cab Engine: 4.0L Class: 4x4 Used For: Daily Driver Posts: 225 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Excellent - thanks guys. -Bill __________________ Sorry for the corny avatar - I just happen to work on High Voltage Power Supplies for a living and couldn't pass it up.
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03-08-2009, 10:48 PM	#6
Nhaz Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Great White North, Ottawa, Canada Year: 1998 and a few Make: Ranger+Ranger+E Model: XLT + XL Engine: 4.0 3.0 Class: 4x4 Used For: 2500+ kilometers a month Posts: 882 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Never use pure distilled water in a antifreeze system. ever. Good for batteries. bad for Engines => Heck tap water is better then distilled. And you shouldn't use pure tap water either => Distilled water is more reactive then regular water since its had most of anything its allready reacted with it Removed in the distillation process. which makes it so it will start eating things it comes into contact with. Like engines. Not quickly but definitely. The only thing you should put into your coolant system is coolant or premixed coolant. __________________ Damage to the Mercedes that cut me off. front end Gone : cost $8000+ Damage to my truck ..my tire bead. Cost. $20 to pull the tire off and reseat it. it was leaking air
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03-08-2009, 11:12 PM	#7
warrior24 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Surprise, AZ Year: 1992 Make: Ford Model: Ranger SuperCab Engine: 4.0 Posts: 330 Rep Power: 11 iTrader: (0)	Hmm I don't always use distilled water but I thought you were supposed to use it. Here is what I found , now I am confused. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...1230644AAbCqcE __________________ I'm not asking you to fix it, just please let me get it back to the way it was before I touched it. The Technician Prayer
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