Car engines require water, which circulates the engine keeping it cool. However, using a coolant for the engine is recommended, which is a mixture of water and antifreeze solution.
The antifreeze raises the boiling point and lowers the freezing point of water, which increases its temperature range. This prevents the water from evaporating and freezing.
Furthermore, coolant provides better protection to the engine than pure water does. Most people also prefer mixing coolant and water in equal amounts (1:1 ratio).
Only in emergencies should you use water instead of coolant. However, ensure that you substitute water with coolant at the earliest available moment.
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Why Car Engines Need Water
The engine is the most vital part of the car, responsible for converting heat energy into mechanical energy, which results in car motion. It is composed of pistons that fire rapidly, thus generating a lot of heat.
When the engine becomes too hot, its internal components are damaged, leading to engine breakdown. Coolant usually circulates outside the engine and absorbs the extra heat released, which helps cool the engine.
By cooling the engine, the coolant maintains the normal operating temperatures of the engine.
How Often Does a Car Need Water?
The amount of coolant required by your car is dependent on the amount of mileage covered every day. Cars covering numerous miles require more coolant than cars only covering short distances.
Mechanics recommend checking your coolant levels every month. You can use a dipstick to determine the current coolant levels and help you decide whether more coolant is needed.
The coolant levels should not drop below the minimum indicated level, as you risk your car overheating. This is a simple maintenance procedure that you can undertake from the comfort of your own home.
When Should You Put Water in Your Car?
It would be best if you topped up the coolant in your car when the levels fall below the minimum indicated level. In cases where you are out of coolant, you can add water up to the indicated level.
However, only do this when traveling shorter distances as water does not offer adequate heat protection compared to the coolant.
Additionally, in cases where your engine overheats and you are out of coolant, you should add water immediately to prevent further engine damage.
Have your radiator flushed when you access the mechanic to eliminate the water and replace it with coolant in all these cases.
Where Do I Add Water To The Car?
Water is added directly into the radiator if the engine begins to overheat. When you observe signs of your engine overheating, such as steam coming from the engine or the low coolant icon popping up on the dashboard, pull up to the side of the road and give your engine time to cool.
Gently loosen the pressure cap and allow the steam to escape before removing the cap altogether. You can then go ahead and add the water to the radiator.
Additionally, you can add water into the coolant reservoir up to the maximum level. Water tends to get used up faster than coolant due to its low boiling point, so keep an eye on the coolant level to determine if another top-up is needed.
What Happens If You Run a Car Without Water?
Running a car without coolant and water is destructive to your car engine. Due to the friction caused by the rapidly moving pistons, a lot of heat is generated.
This heat destroys the internal engine components when not removed by the coolant/water. Without coolant/water, it is best not to drive your car as you risk causing permanent engine damage.
However, almost all modern vehicles come equipped with the automatic engine cut-off feature. This feature detects abnormal engine temperatures caused by low coolant levels or the absence of coolant and prevents you from driving the car until the engine has cooled down.
Essentially, the automatic engine cut-off prevents damage to your car engine.
Take Away
The engine is the heart of the car. Due to the constant movement of engine parts, a lot of heat is generated, which can cause the engine to overheat.
Coolant prevents the engine from overheating. Comprising of water and antifreeze mixture, coolant is better suited to regulate heat in the engine.
You can also make your ideal coolant/water mixture for your car. However, in emergencies where the coolant is unavailable, you can use water to cool the engine immediately, thus preventing engine damage.
Ensure you substitute water with coolant in your car when the emergency has been resolved.
