I've joined the GTi world...and i've got a small problem

[Ben Lessani]

Yes one will F**k the engine in cold weather, One won't.

Yep, been there done that - I went on holiday just as Winter was approaching and the car had all water in due to a leaky summer run.

Needed a new matrix, radiator, metal water pipe and core plug

50:50 coolant only!

[Alec]

I'm cutting it rather fine with mine, I had a leak also in the summer so ran only water. Gonna change the temp sensor today or tomorrow and get my heater valve out if I can find some copper pipe to replace it. Hopefully I'l lose enough water to top it up with anti-freeze

[Ben Lessani]

Other problem to just running water is the corrosion - anti-freeze has inhibitors.

Pop the bottom rad pipe off drain it out (when hot - so the thermostat is open) then top back up with 5l of 50:50.

[Horney]

I left a MKII GTI over winter with just water in it and never had a problem. Admitadly the car wasn't in use and was parked up on my folks driveway but it was a reasonably cold winter and it snowed several times. It only occured to me it had no antifreeze in it when I went to start it up in the spring, crapped myself, but it was fine.

Nick

[Ben Lessani]

Some sound advice there Nick

[Horney]

Ha ha wasn't advice, just an observation. My folks pond froze over so I guess the water in the golf must have frozen but it didn't do any damage. It's managed 2 seasons in the GTI Champ since then without any failures. It's even running the same box that I drove 60 miles on with no gear box oil in (garage error, not mine I hasten to point out)!

nick

[oakgreen_91]

Coolant also increases boiling point.

[Mk2Kezza]

.

[danny_p]

normaly the freezing itself dosent crack the block  sometimes it tests radiators but not allways.   its when you start a frozen engine you trash it all sort of expensive things can go wrong then