Maintaining proper coolant/antifreeze levels is crucial to sustaining the health and performance of your engine. A frequently asked question about this critical engine maintenance requirement is;
How long should I wait before running my engine after adding a coolant?
The answer depends on the engine’s different temperature scenarios;
- Scenario 1: If the engine is overheated.
- Scenario 2: If the engine is cold.
Contents
If The Engine Is Overheated
N/B: You should never top up your coolant when the engine is overheated. When it is, it’s best to stop, pack the car somewhere, open the bonnet and let it cool down while still running, first before adding the coolant.
An overheated engine will cool down(have its extreme temperature drop to safe, ideal levels) within 30 minutes. At this point, you can safely add the coolant without fretting about damaging the engine or hurting yourself.
Once you top up the antifreeze, you should not turn off the engine immediately. Remember that it will still be hot, except not overheated.
Otherwise, doing so will mean turning off the cooling system, which will leave your engine grappling with some heat, which can actually be detrimental.
Instead of turning it off immediately, let it run for a few minutes (let’s say 10-15 minutes) first. This will give the fluid some time to run through the engine and cool it further so that it can be safely turned off.
Key Takeaway: If you top up the coolant level when the engine is hot and you need to turn off the engine thereafter, you shouldn’t do so immediately.
Instead, it’s advisable to wait a few minutes(let’s say 10-15 minutes) before doing so. This not only allows the engine to regain the optimal working temperature but also gives the coolant ample time to run through the engine as it should.
If The Engine Is Cold
It turns out that every engine has its ideal working temperature. For example, some engines work best at 200°F(93°C), 207°(100°C), and so on. Others function optimally at much lower or higher temperatures than the above.
Essentially, a cold engine is one whose temperature at a given time is below its optimal working temperature. If your engine is cold, you may turn it off even immediately after adding a coolant without running the risk of any consequences, unlike in Scenario 1.
In other words, there’s no specific time duration you should observe before doing so without jeopardizing your engine’s health. That’s because a cold engine doesn’t generate any significant heat that can damage its delicate components.
However, most motorists will continue to run their engine for some time after topping up the coolant because it’s slightly beneficial to the engine. It helps to get any air bubbles out of the cooling system.
Whether your engine is hot or cold, make sure the radiator cap is off when running it after adding the coolant. Otherwise, the radiator could easily blow up due to the presence of air bubbles, which can consequently cause immense pressure during the process.
Key Takeaway: If you top up the coolant when the engine is cold and you need to turn off the engine thereafter, you can do so immediately without damaging your engine.
However, to get the best performance out of your cooling system and engine in general, it’s better to allow the engine to continue running for another 10-15 minutes, or so. This will allow the antifreeze enough time to run through the engine as it should.
Can You Drive Immediately After Adding Coolant?
While you can, it’s advisable to wait a few minutes(say 10-15 minutes) to let the fluid flow through the engine. This will enable you to get the best performance out of your cooling system and engine in general.
Conclusion
A well-maintained cooling system is crucial to the health and performance of your engine. The coolant works by transferring heat either to or away from the engine, depending on whether it’s overheating or freezing. And it remains an important part of this system.
The answer to the common question as to how long you should run your engine after adding coolant depends on whether the engine is overheated or cold.
If it is overheated, you should give it about 10-15 minutes before turning it off. This should allow the engine and the coolant to further cool down and flow through the engine, respectively.
If the engine is cold, on the other hand, you can turn it off immediately after topping up the cooling fluid without worrying about destroying your engine.
