Travel in Cold Weather

[mhsprecher]

Originally Posted by bill williamson

can someone post that "beatin' the horse pic"?
bill repetition

lol

[sethkestenbaum]

antifreeze is cheap. Add some, run the engine (mix it up), and then you don't have to worry.

[katy]

mhsprecher, here ya go:

https://www.google.ca/search?q=Beati...w=1024&bih=653

[Ed in Maine]

If you are planning to use the car in the winter, you need to use anti-freeze. However, I have never liked using anti-freeze. I don't have the packless water pump and the anti-freeze would drip and blow back into the firewall making a mess. The problem is that the water with anti-freeze has a lower specific gravity and leaks out easier. In Maine, I use water and anti-rust solution but must be drained out Nov. 1st. My calendar is well marked to remind me. You guys that live in warmer climates get to enjoy the hobby all year long! Ed

[29Cabriolet]

I was told (or read somewhere) that unlike modern cars, when you drain the water from a Model A radiator, there is none left in the engine. I took over the Cab in my avatar from my Dad who restored and drove it for over 30 years. Every winter (New England winter that is) he would drain the water for the season and never had a freezing problem. That suggests what I heard is true. Can anyone verify?

P.S. Nevertheless since I've had the car, I don't use water. Now its 50-50 AF.

[katy]

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I don't know if there's any water left in the engine when you drain a Model A, but if there is any left it's not enough to do any harm if/when it freezes.
Back in the day it was common to use a Model A (and other cars also) all winter, drain the water at night or any time it was going to sit long enough to freeze, refill when being used the next time.
Keeping the front of the radiator covered so it doesn't freeze before it heats up.
When out for the evening, instead of draining it, the owner would go out and start it up and warm it up for 5 or 10 minutes every hour or 2, depending on how cold out it was.
Not all cars could be simply drained by opening one petcock, the V8s needed both banks drained besides the radiator, the inline 6s usually had a petcock on the side, near the back to drain the block.

Been there, done that.