What are the consequences of adding tap water to the engine radiator?
2 Answers
Adding tap water to the engine radiator can cause the car to malfunction due to excessive temperature. The following are the specific reasons and methods for dealing with radiator boiling: Reasons: The car radiator is the main component of the car's cooling system. The car radiator should not come into contact with any acid, alkali, or other corrosive substances to prevent aging. Soft water should be used in the radiator. Hard water needs to be softened before use to avoid internal blockage and scale formation in the car radiator. It is recommended to choose long-lasting antifreeze that meets national standards and is produced by reputable manufacturers. Tap water tends to produce more rust, which is detrimental to the smoothness of the engine's water passages. Handling radiator boiling: If the temperature gauge rises during driving, choose a safe place to stop immediately, turn off the engine, and open the hood to help the engine cool down. After about half an hour, the engine temperature will return to normal. Then, carefully check the radiator scale and whether the fan is damaged. If the radiator is low on water, you can add purified water or antifreeze after it has cooled for a while. Do not add cold water directly. Always use a wet towel to cushion the opening of the radiator cap to prevent steam burns.
I've been driving for twenty years, and what I fear most is radiator problems. Once, a friend's car overheated on the road, and he couldn't find coolant, so he used tap water as a temporary fix. A month later, the engine needed a major overhaul, and when it was opened up, it was full of yellowish-brown scale. Tap water contains many impurities, and when boiled, it forms scale deposits that gradually clog the radiator's water channels, which are finer than a strand of hair. At high temperatures, it's also prone to vaporization and boiling, reducing cooling efficiency by 30%. The worst part is the corrosion of metal components; aluminum alloy radiator joints can oxidize and develop holes. In winter, when temperatures drop below freezing, it's even worse—ice can expand and crack the engine block. After that incident, he started replacing the entire coolant system every six months and never dared to cut corners again.
