Is It Safe to Use Water Instead of Coolant?
May 28, 2022
The cooling system is crucial for your vehicle engine to maintain a stable temperature at all times. Coolant fluid is the key part of the system that helps regulate the temperature and prevents overheating and parts from corroding. You may have heard from somewhere that water can be used in place of coolant, and we’re here to set the record straight.
In order to determine whether water is safe to use in lieu of coolant, you should know what is in coolant first. Coolant is a 50/50 mix of water and other additives in a solution called antifreeze. These chemical components help increase the water's freezing and boiling points to withstand extreme temperatures.
Now, when your car is overheating due to a lack of coolant, it most likely has a leak. To temporarily relieve the problem, you will need to resupply the car with coolant.
Because some people may not have coolant readily available, water is the next best solution. You may consider adding water as a temporary solution. However, we advise you to only do this at your own risk and only do it when it is absolutely necessary. Adding too much water can actually damage the system. This is because water has low boiling and freezing points, which means that it won't be able to properly protect your engine as well as coolant.
Another concern with using water as a coolant alternative is that it can quickly lead to rust and corrosion. Rusting can further cause leaks, which is why we don’t recommend using water for coolant.
The best thing to do when your coolant is low is to get your car to a trusted repair shop as soon as possible. At Kwik Kar Auto Repair, our experts can search for a leak and repair that leak in a quick manner. Then, we can refill your system with clean coolant.
If you’re in need of cooling system maintenance or repairs, there’s no better team to handle it than Kwik Kar Auto Repair. We invite you to give us a call or visit today!
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