What are the consequences of not adding antifreeze to a car?
3 Answers
If a vehicle does not have antifreeze, it can cause the engine to overheat and become damaged, leading to potential accidents. The full name of antifreeze is antifreeze coolant. In addition to its commonly understood function of preventing freezing, as a working medium in the engine cooling system, it also prevents boiling in summer, ensuring the engine does not overheat or 'boil over'. Precautions for using antifreeze: 1. Try to use the same brand of antifreeze. Different brands of antifreeze use different metal corrosion inhibitors, so they should not be mixed. 2. Most antifreeze products have a validity period of two years (some may last longer). When adding antifreeze, ensure the product is within its validity period. When replacing, drain the old fluid, clean the cooling system thoroughly, and then add the new fluid. 3. Avoid diluting with water. Traditional inorganic antifreeze should not be diluted with water, as it can cause sedimentation, severely affecting its normal function. Organic antifreeze can be diluted with water, but the amount of water should be minimal. 4. For vehicles using antifreeze, never directly add tap water. Instead, use distilled or deionized water. If these are not available, cooled boiled water is better than tap water. If antifreeze is lost due to leakage, replenish it with the same brand. Antifreeze should be used year-round; using tap water in summer is unscientific and counterproductive. 5. Some antifreeze may develop small flocculent precipitates after being stored for a year. This is usually caused by additive precipitation and does not mean the antifreeze should be discarded. However, if large amounts of granular precipitates appear, the antifreeze has deteriorated and should no longer be used.
That time I drove my old Jetta on a long trip and suffered a loss, the engine hood suddenly emitting white smoke scared me half to death. Antifreeze isn't just for preventing freezing; high-temperature protection is even more important. Plain water boils at just 100 degrees, while the engine can easily reach 110 degrees, causing it to boil over. High-temperature steam can burst water pipes. Back then, the aluminum alloy radiator connection directly cracked, costing over 800 yuan for towing and repairs. Even worse, the calcium and magnesium ions in tap water can form scale, clogging the small radiator pipes like in a kettle. In summer, with the AC on, the water temperature would alarm, forcing me to spend over 300 yuan to clean the entire cooling system.
Last time I heard from a repair shop mechanic that a BMW 7 Series owner insisted on adding mineral water, and the radiator corroded and perforated the following year. Antifreeze contains special corrosion inhibitors to protect metal pipes. Ordinary water can trigger electrochemical reactions when in contact with different metals, forming a galvanic cell between the aluminum radiator and the iron cylinder block, accelerating rust several times faster than natural aging. Moreover, water lacks lubricating properties, causing the water pump's sealing sleeve to wear out over time, leading to leaks. Replacing the water pump requires disassembling half of the engine, which is particularly costly. Additionally, ethylene glycol-based antifreeze lowers the freezing point of water, preventing freezing even at -25°C. In northern winters, repairing frozen and cracked water pipes costs at least 2,000 yuan.
