possibly frozen VR6

[B4passatglx]

I did something stupid. :embarrassed:

I filled my engine coolant system with only water a couple weeks ago after my waterpump replacement and just remembered it now. The reason i used just water was to see if it would stop leaking which it did. I have been meaning to put antifreeze in it, but I forgot. Its been inside an unheated garage. Tommorow I am going to check it out, see whats up and throw some antifreeze in there.

What can I expect? The outside temps dipped to 24 degrees as the coldest in the past week or so. (according to my B5.5 gauge readout)

Should I attempt to start the engine? What should I look for?

[Master_Shake]

let it warm up temp wise outside. :frown: drain it, add coolant and run it for a lil bit idk good luck dood.

[Shiftn4Dubs]

Today should be up in the 50's-60's Good day to drain it. I think you should be OK as long as you drain it, Water does expand but I dont think that would be enough to crack your block. I have Froze water in a Plastic Soda bottle in my freezer and that didnt crack. Antifreeze is 50/50 anyway.

[Shiftn4Dubs]

AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!

DO not add a different Color/Grade Antifreeze/Coolant to the engine, make sure you add the Color/Grade you had in the car before!!!

Mixing different Color/Grade Antifreeze/Coolant will cause havoc with your engine seals and gaskets, if it mixes it causes a chemical reaction and will destroy your seals and gaskets. You will know if this has happened because the coolant will turn a Brownish-Grey Color. Even Draining and Flushing the System will not stop the raection becasue the gaskets and seals are saturated with the previous Color/Grade Coolant.

[veedubboostn]

I made the same mistake W/my 16V scirrocco a few winters ago.... but mine was worse... it was under like three foot of snow when I lived in Cicero...

I added some antifreeze, and it didn't crack anything... but IMO, it depends if you filled the system, or left some out.... because if you left some out, it leaves room to expand, thus, not cracking your block...

get it changed before it gets to late...

cheers,
-Jay

[reverendhorton]

Even Draining and Flushing the System will not stop the raection becasue the gaskets and seals are saturated with the previous Color/Grade Coolant.

weird... I switched my Golf from G11 to G12 and I'm not having issues. I just flushed it with some off the shelf product, ran it for a few minutes full of just water , drained, did that again and then put in the final mix. It still looks perfect...

to the OP, try giving the hoses a squeeze, and if it feels like a slushee then you should probably wait for it to thaw some.

[Shiftn4Dubs]

Seems as if there is some debate on this;

Seems as you did a great job flushing becuase it is highly not reccomended to do this.
But if ya can flush it well enough....
Couple links for ya.

http://www.corrado-club.com/corrado/garage/VR6coolant.cfm


http://www.gti-vr6.net/library/engine/blue_or_red_coolant.html

[B4passatglx]

Its not froze. But I need to drain the water from the radiator. Anyone know the easiest route to do this? Should I just disconnect the lower radiator hose?

Then I am adding antifreeze and running the engine. Good thing I caught this before subzero temperatures hit

[VWTUNING]

yeah that should work dude. I wouldnt worry about getting it all out, just put in straight collant to compensate :P

[veedubboostn]

yeah that should work dude. I wouldnt worry about getting it all out, just put in straight collant to compensate :P

ditto:smile:

[B4passatglx]

emptied the radiator and what I could out of the block by running it for 20 or so seconds with the radiator completly disconnected. Filled it up with prestone green stuff, which was what was in it before. Let it idle for a few mins and I am good to go! thanks guys

My Passat is parked next to a Porsche 993 turbo in the garage where its stored it. Among other cars are a few mid 90's corvettes and a seafoam green 1965 caddy