How long can you drive when the car indicates insufficient coolant?
1 Answers
When the car dashboard indicates insufficient coolant but the temperature gauge is normal, you can still drive for a few kilometers. However, once the engine temperature rises, you should stop immediately. Continuing to drive may cause the engine to overheat ("boil over"), leading to engine damage. To avoid unnecessary losses, it is best not to continue driving. The functions of coolant are as follows: 1. Anti-boiling: Coolant that meets national standards typically has a boiling point exceeding 105°C, compared to water's boiling point of 100°C. This allows coolant to withstand higher temperatures without boiling over, meeting the cooling needs of high-load engines to some extent. 2. Anti-freezing: In extremely low temperatures, coolant ensures the vehicle's cooling system does not freeze. Generally, common antifreeze solutions have freezing points between -20°C and -45°C, selected based on regional needs to meet usage requirements. 3. Anti-rust: High-quality coolant prevents rust in the cooling system, which can accelerate wear and reduce heat transfer efficiency. 4. Anti-corrosion: The primary function of coolant is to prevent corrosion, which is a chemical, electrochemical, and erosive process that gradually damages metal surfaces in the cooling system. Severe corrosion can perforate the cooling system walls, causing coolant leaks and engine damage.
