Lude Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 my car is in the garage for the winter, it wont be used until feb/march. i was planning on draining/flushing all the water out of the rad/engine as its prob all old and dirty. do i need to put antifreeze in it? i can just leave it with no water in there cant i? then when i come to drive it again it wont be freezing temps so can just fill it with water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraDan24 Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 (edited) Personally i'd flush it with clean water, then stick anti-freeze in it rather than leave it empty, but thats just me. I dont know of any reason why you couldnt just leave it empty as long as you replace the cap and make sure no crap can get in. Re-filling it would be my preference though. Edited November 22, 2010 by SupraDan24 (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 You should be using Toyota 4life red so you shouldnt have a problem.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lude Posted November 22, 2010 Author Share Posted November 22, 2010 its the first winter ive owned the car, so have no idea what the previous owner has in it, seems pointless putting 10letres of antifreeze in the car when its not gonna get used, what happens if i fill it with water only, no antifreeze, but dont drive it? does the water freeze and damage/break anything? or is it only bad if you drive the car with frozen water in so the engine wont cool? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraHuman Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 If the water freezes solid it will crack the block, frozen water cracks solid rock with ease so a cast iron block is no match for it. Drain the system and replace with Toyota 4life.Problem solvedits the first winter ive owned the car, so have no idea what the previous owner has in it, seems pointless putting 10letres of antifreeze in the car when its not gonna get used, what happens if i fill it with water only, no antifreeze, but dont drive it? does the water freeze and damage/break anything? or is it only bad if you drive the car with frozen water in so the engine wont cool? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanisLupus Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 I personally wouldn't let the engine empty... As soon as there is only air in the system there can be corrosion which isn't the best thing. I would put the antifreeze in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 Corrosion is the key.........yes coolant stops the water freezing but it also stops the block core plugs etc rusting. Rust flakes could block the matrix and i'm pretty sure a rusty surface will reduce the heat transfer from the metal to the coolant.........basically a bad idea.......if you are on a budget i'd simple fill with a generic ethylene glycol (blue stuff) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 great advise For the sake of putting cheap stuff in is better than water. If cheap is too expensive no water will be better than just water. Just put 4 life in it unless you your doing a cambelt soon or taking the rad out for whatever reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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