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04-22-2020, 05:31 AM | #1 |
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Spring........and electric blankets on the A
Hey gang, out of hibernation. Up in the Central NYS area where I live, I have to wait until the freeze warnings pass to fill the radiator with water and rust inhibitor. I don't run anti-freeze in the 28. I drain it all out for the winter as the garage is not heated.
I'm wondering if I could use a household electric blanket say in late April on chilly nights where it might drop below freezing, so I can use the car earlier than waiting until mid May which is normally when the last freeze is possible. I would wrap the top part of the engine (water jacket) and as much of the radiator as I could, to keep any areas warm enough. If this is risky, I can of course wait until any freeze is passed.......but just wondering if this idea would work. Hope everyone is safe and ready for summer, Don |
04-22-2020, 05:32 AM | #2 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
just curious, why dont you run antifreeze?
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04-22-2020, 05:34 AM | #3 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
I get better cooling running distilled water and "Water Wetter".
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04-22-2020, 05:47 AM | #4 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
I feel for you bigd1101. I run the same in my "A" but I been driving for a couple weeks now in Northern Ohio. My garage is not heated but it's attached. I would think the blanket would work, anything to take the chill off.
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04-22-2020, 05:53 AM | #5 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
It worked in a place where it never got a few degrees below freezing. Not sure about your climate though.
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04-22-2020, 06:41 AM | #6 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
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04-22-2020, 08:08 AM | #7 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
Probably just the heating blanket thrown over the hood would get you down to about 25, but I'd test it on a non freeze night, then measure the temp of the engine in the am. Just like the virus, you gotta test!
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04-22-2020, 10:22 AM | #8 | |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
Quote:
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04-22-2020, 11:13 AM | #9 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
As long as the wife does not mind that the a is warm and not her!
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04-22-2020, 05:58 PM | #10 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
How would you feel if the electric blanket failed or the electricity shut off on that circuit for some reason and you cracked something. Run the antifreeze for a month and while it's cooler and drain it out if you are that set against it in warner temps and just keep the jug of antifreeze for next year
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04-22-2020, 06:19 PM | #11 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
With all due respect, why do you not use 50/50 antifreeze with the water pump lube and rust inhibitor?
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04-22-2020, 08:48 PM | #12 | |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
Quote:
I run water and drain in the winter but don't drive when the weather can go anywhere near freezing. I simply add water pump lube/rust inhibitor. P.S. The "old green" antifreeze probably would be safer though not cooling as well as straight water. |
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04-22-2020, 09:01 PM | #13 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
Maybe it is just me but if one needs to use water wetter etc... in an attempt to lower the temperature of the water in the engine there is a problem that needs to be fixed.
Using water instead of an antifreeze mixture in this day and age is in my opinion unwise.
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04-22-2020, 09:07 PM | #14 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
I've seen a lot of cracked blocks. It seems like just one more thing to worry about. An electric blanket will raise the temp considerably but what a hassle. I run green antifreeze and leave it in year around. Never overheats, and never freezes.
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04-22-2020, 10:46 PM | #15 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
I too vote for antifreeze.
But, too each his own, why not use a magnetic block heater? I have one from Napa that I pre heat my backoe with in the winter. Was probably cheaper than a blanket. Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk |
04-23-2020, 12:23 AM | #16 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
I use antifreeze also. A downside of antifreeze is it does not play nice with paint if you have an original design water pump that drips, or if you have any other coolant leaks.
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04-23-2020, 02:08 AM | #17 | |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
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An electric blanket? May work but you risk burning down your car, garage and house.
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04-23-2020, 08:23 AM | #18 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
or use a light bulb of a sufficient wattage and cover the engine with any blanket . If you are worried about the bulb burning out while unattended, use 2 bulbs.
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04-23-2020, 08:43 AM | #19 |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
You should be running a 50/50 mix, crazy not to. You will not have to mess with draining, heater blankets etc.
You say you get better cooling without it. Do you have a temperature gauge so that you can see the exact temp? |
04-23-2020, 09:02 AM | #20 | |
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Re: Spring........and electric blankets on the A
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