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Aluminum block #3094558
11/16/22 02:18 AM
11/16/22 02:18 AM
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Kansas
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Thelma133 Offline OP
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Thelma133  Offline OP
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How do you gents with aluminum blocks, with no petcocks, remove water from it for the winter??

Re: Aluminum block [Re: Thelma133] #3094567
11/16/22 05:49 AM
11/16/22 05:49 AM
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N/E, Michigan
RATTRAP Offline
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Originally Posted by Thelma133
How do you gents with aluminum blocks, with no petcocks, remove water from it for the winter??


I would drain the water from the radiator re-fill with antifreeze, run the block to temp and store for the winter, flush it in the spring.

Re: Aluminum block [Re: RATTRAP] #3094572
11/16/22 07:25 AM
11/16/22 07:25 AM
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JERICOGTX Offline
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Drill and tap a hole in the side of the block, and install a petcock.

My aluminum INDY block is half filled with Rock Block, and a hole was drilled at the top of the fill.

But as RATTRAP has said, just drain the radiator, and fill with antifreeze, and run the water pump to circulate.


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Re: Aluminum block [Re: JERICOGTX] #3094575
11/16/22 08:07 AM
11/16/22 08:07 AM
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Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
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You can also blow compressed air in the upper hose and it will blow it out the lower. It would remove enough to not worry about freezing but won't get all of it.

Last edited by Bad340fish; 11/16/22 05:21 PM.

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Re: Aluminum block [Re: Thelma133] #3094699
11/16/22 02:29 PM
11/16/22 02:29 PM
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Las Vegas
Al_Alguire Offline
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easy live somewhere warmer laugh2


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Re: Aluminum block [Re: RATTRAP] #3094916
11/17/22 11:25 AM
11/17/22 11:25 AM
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NC
440Jim Offline
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Originally Posted by RATTRAP

I would drain the water from the radiator re-fill with antifreeze, run the block to temp and store for the winter, flush it in the spring.

I agree. With the water pump running, it will mix the new antifreeze and the left over water in the block. So don't use that premixed antifreeze.


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Re: Aluminum block [Re: JERICOGTX] #3094970
11/17/22 01:28 PM
11/17/22 01:28 PM
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Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing Offline
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Originally Posted by JERICOGTX
Drill and tap a hole in the side of the block, and install a petcock.

My aluminum INDY block is half filled with Rock Block, and a hole was drilled at the top of the fill.

But as RATTRAP has said, just drain the radiator, and fill with antifreeze, and run the water pump to circulate.

1) iagree
2) as Al stated move some where warmer
c) dont use coolannt - thats how I do it.

Last edited by W.I.N. Racing; 11/17/22 01:29 PM.

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Re: Aluminum block [Re: Thelma133] #3095465
11/19/22 11:50 AM
11/19/22 11:50 AM
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northern,Ohio,USA
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Clanton Offline
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I use a brake vacuum pump or the same tube with wire bent as a hook with the tube taped to it and syphon the liquid out.I was doing this with a Koleno block for the past 15yrs.


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Re: Aluminum block [Re: Clanton] #3095487
11/19/22 12:36 PM
11/19/22 12:36 PM
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Motor City
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6PKRTSE Offline
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I just winterized mine for the winter even though I have a heated garage. I do it every winter just in case my furnace were to break. I just drain most of the water and top off with antifreeze and fire it up until warm and circulating. Then drain it all in the spring again.


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Re: Aluminum block [Re: 6PKRTSE] #3095532
11/19/22 02:42 PM
11/19/22 02:42 PM
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Mo.
racerx Offline
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^^^ This is kind of what i do but my garage doesn't have control heat, but it's insulated and i just run 50/50 mix. but i do have a cast iron block tho. i have a thermometer on my bench with a 12 oz bottle of water that never freezes. twocents

Re: Aluminum block [Re: Thelma133] #3095556
11/19/22 03:42 PM
11/19/22 03:42 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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I think every aluminum block with coolant passages need to have non corrosive coolant in them year around twocents work


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Re: Aluminum block [Re: Cab_Burge] #3095561
11/19/22 03:56 PM
11/19/22 03:56 PM
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north of coder
moparx Offline
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maybe not necessarily coolant, but some kind of additive to prevent corrosion due to electrolysis.
maybe one of those anodes attached to a radiator cap ? shruggy
beer

Re: Aluminum block [Re: moparx] #3095723
11/20/22 10:52 AM
11/20/22 10:52 AM
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PA
moparacer Offline
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Mine gets antifreeze no matter what....Being in the radiator business for 35 years, I have seen what a little water in the right spot can do if it freezes.


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Re: Aluminum block [Re: moparacer] #3095745
11/20/22 12:15 PM
11/20/22 12:15 PM
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Anoka County, MN
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Leigh Offline
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Zero experience with filled blocks. I can say, from experience, that water comes out of both sides of the drained block. No way would I trust draining only one side. I run softened water with water pump lube during the race season, and softened water and coolant, mixed 50-50. I then check for -25 -30 fahrenheit. This is an iron R1 block.

Re: Aluminum block [Re: moparacer] #3095811
11/20/22 03:22 PM
11/20/22 03:22 PM
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north of coder
moparx Offline
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Originally Posted by moparacer
Mine gets antifreeze no matter what....Being in the radiator business for 35 years, I have seen what a little water in the right spot can do if it freezes.



i absolutely agree, especially if even there is a TINY chance a temperature MAY dip below freezing.
beer







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