However, there\u2019s more to it. You technically can use water in emergencies. Today, we\u2019ll discuss the consequences of using water instead of coolant, and share when you can make an exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Engine coolants can be made of three different technologies. These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the three, IAT is the oldest technology and it lasts the shortest. OAT is relatively newer and HOAT is the newest, and these two last around 5 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of the technology, the fundamentals of these three remain more or less the same. However, all three vary greatly from water. The fundamental differences between coolant and water are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you start your vehicle, the engine heats up rapidly. Any engine will reach a functional temperature that\u2019s way beyond the boiling point of water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coolants are specially designed to have a high boiling point so they can withstand the heat generated by the engine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here, water fails drastically. This is especially true for summer. In summer, the water will boil over or steam minutes after you start your car, and the radiator will eventually run out of water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This will force you to stop the car often and add more water to keep the engine from overheating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, you\u2019ll have to cool the engine down completely to open the radiator every time you need to add water. This process will take around 20 minutes at least, each time you add water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people try to work around this by splashing water directly on the engine. Although it can cool down the engine, it\u2019s not recommended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s because the engines are made mostly of metal. Metal has an excellent capacity to expand and contract with temperature changes. The expansion or contraction doesn\u2019t change the shape of the metal as long as it\u2019s done gradually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, sudden shifts in temperature can alter the shape of the metal object. This means, cooling your engine by washing it with water will damage and may even deform it, which will require expensive replacements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Water comes with a lot of minerals. Although the water particles boil over and steam at high temperatures, the minerals are deposited in the radiator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time, these can reduce the performance of the vehicle\u2019s cooling system, thus leading to permanent overheating issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although coolants are liquid, their chemical constitution makes them inert to the metal the engine is made of. However, water reacts with the metal proactively, and it can form rust on the inside of the cooling system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The formation of rust can make the components brittle and make them less effective. This is another fundamental difference between coolant and water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite all the drawbacks of using water instead of coolant, you can opt for water in dire emergencies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your radiator is completely out of coolant for some reason, then it\u2019s better to have water, as it\u2019s better than having absolutely nothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you leave your engine running with no or low levels of coolant, then it\u2019ll eventually overheat. We can\u2019t stress this enough, but you must take every possible step to prevent engine overheating. Using water can be a quick fix. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In case there are low levels of coolant, you can add water to increase the amount. However, you\u2019ll need to check the level of glycol and the appropriate amount of water to restore the glycol level to safety limits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One may not have the required tools to check the glycol level in times of emergency. In this case, one can use a mix of one part water and one part coolant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to note that while it\u2019s advised to run the engine on water in emergencies, one shouldn\u2019t drive around too long with water in the radiator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The longer the water is left in the radiator, the more damage you\u2019re subjecting the cooling system to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, make sure to visit a repair shop as early as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Can](\"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Can-You-Use-Water-Instead-of-Coolant-in-the-Summer-1024x576.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDifferences Between Coolants and Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Water\"](\"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Water-1024x576.webp\")
Boiling Point<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Permanent Overheating Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Corrosion <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When Should You Use Water Instead of Coolant? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n