Can You Add Water to Car Coolant?
1 Answers
Engine coolant should not be mixed with water. Adding water to antifreeze will lower the boiling point of the new coolant mixture, which can easily cause the car to overheat. Additionally, the freezing point of the antifreeze will rise after adding water. Typically, antifreeze has a freezing point of -25°C, but after adding water, the freezing point of the new mixture will increase to around -10°C. In many cold regions, this can cause the antifreeze to "freeze," potentially damaging the radiator or cooling system. Antifreeze offers excellent performance in preventing freezing in winter, boiling in summer, and resisting scale and corrosion year-round. Currently, over 95% of antifreeze used domestically and internationally is ethylene glycol-based. Compared to tap water, ethylene glycol's most notable feature is its antifreeze properties, which water lacks. Moreover, ethylene glycol has a high boiling point, low volatility, moderate viscosity with minimal temperature-related changes, and excellent thermal stability. Therefore, ethylene glycol antifreeze is an ideal coolant.