Engine Coolant - Stupid question?

Question

Just noticed my engine coolant is below the minimum. know this is a dumb question, but, can i just put tap water in? or does it need to be special stuff? Will tap water do any harm?

Answer 1

tap water for now, but



the engine is designed to run with a mixture of water and antifreeze, even in summer. Check your manual. The mixture also protects against corrosion.



Do not put too much fluid into the expansion tank. It needs the air above it.



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P.S. a trick - if your engine overheats in the hot weather, open the windows, turn on the heater with the fan on full. The heater effectively adds an extra cooling radiator to the system. No comfortable but it works.

Answer 2

The only stupid question, is the one that never got asked. All coolant is mixed at a rate of 50/50, meaning half water and half coolant. With this said, adding a pint of tap water will in no way cause any problems. If it requires more than this amount, purchase the correct coolant and add it at a rate of 50/50 mixed. Coolant is meant to be changed about every 36,000 miles or three years. If you are beyond the time change, consider having the system serviced and pressure tested to eliminate any problems from unknown leaks. Good Luck

Answer 3

No, it's not a stupid question. The fundamental engine coolant is indeed water. However, these days the coolant not only does that job, it also acts as an anti-freeze and an anti-corrosive, which is very important with today's engines; plain water isn't good enough. That's why they use that term.

Answer 4

You would be diluting the coolant mixture, which is comprised of 30% to 50% additive. It not only lowers the freezing point, it also makes the boiling point higher and prevents corrosion. It will be either red/orange or blue. The former is good for 5 years, the latter 2. (Mercedes own is good for 15years! ) A small container of either will be available from goodie shops, motor factors or dealers parts department, which in the case of Ford may well be the cheapest product. Your handbook or the dealer will tell you the recommended strength. A litre for topping up is not expensive. (Except probably the Mercedes product!). If it's an older vehicle without history, it may well be worth refilling from scratch. other people may have been adding water! I used to live in a super hard water area and never had problems.

Old technician.

Answer 5

Despite the others that have answered your question with regard to tap water, the answer is a long term 'NO'.



Allow me to explain... Tap water has all sorts of minerals that come out of solution when hot. These minerals wil adhere to your water galleries, and in time block your water ways to such an extent that you will have over heating problems. In the short term, you can top up with tap water, but don't make a habit of it, okay.

It is best to use deionized water, mixed 50/50 with anti-freeze.

Best wishes.

Dr Antony

Answer 6

Depends upon the size of your engine.

4 cyl engines usually have a capacity of about 2 gallons

6 cyl engines usually have a capacity of about 3 gallons

8 cyl engines usually have a capacity of about 4-7 gallons



So, if you add 1 qt to a 4 cyl engine you'll raise the freezing point up a few degrees (no problem in the summer). Don't buy the pre-mixed. You're paying antifreeze prices for 2 qts of water! Example: Auto Zone sells full strength Prestone for $15/gal. Their 50/50 pre-mix is $12/gal. That's $5 for two quarts of water.



Buy the full strength and mix your own. Around our city, you bring your own 1 gal container and buy filtered water for about 25c a gallon. Or you can filter your own water with a Brita filter or equiivalent.

Answer 7

depending where you stay,



you can use tap water if your water is soft but if your water is hard its beter to put in distilled water (you can get it in any motor factors, it isnt expensive it should be less than £3 for 5litres



and also its beter to top it up with anti-freeze (its also a summer coolant) to keep the radiator and engine all cool during the summer months and it stops it from freezing during the winter months

Answer 8

HI

Check the coolant in the radiator its self... if the overflow tank shows low.

With the motor cold take the cap off the radiator it should be full to the top or no more than 1" below the top.. if it is low in the radiator I would add coolant/water mix. the also fill the over flow tank.

good luck

tim

Answer 9

you are supposed to use de-ironised water i think its called, but I have never done this and it has never caused me any problems so yes tap water is fine. If you have to put alot of water in then you should add some anitfreeze as well, especially when we get to winter. it will tell you the right concentration on the bottle

Answer 10

you can use tap water for the summer but once winter sets in if the engine has not used it it will freeze in the tank, you can buy a premixed solution of coolant and water from any parts store, and all you have to do is pour it in. that is probably the better way to go so you don't have to worry about anything.

Answer 11

I have to agree with......g6ypk..... Water can do a lot of harm to your circulation system.....

If I were you I would drain off all the old stuff that's in the rad and refill with the correct mix of antifreeze..... It should be ok then for the next two or three years.... That's if you have no leaks..of course..

Answer 12

Tap water can be very hard water which will cause your cooling system to fill up with limestone. one would prefer a pure water, such as from a distillation unit or a reverse osmosis treatment if it is hard water.



Now it is good practice if you ever need to use antifreeze, to mix your top-up water half and half with antifreeze so that in the fall you need not be caught with too little antifreeze in the mix, and will not have to drain some of the coolant.

Answer 13

Tap water will do fine, but have a look for leaks.

Answer 14

tap water is fine, but i would mix anti freeze with it or buy pre mixed. the anti freeze is also a lubricant and rust inhibitor.

Answer 15

it is ok to add just tap water.

if you decide to add coolant.then make sure that it is a coolant like what is in there now.if you don't know what that is than.then add the type that is labeled any color.you can mix this.

Answer 16

tap water is fine

Answer 17

tap water is fine