What are the consequences of not adding antifreeze to a vehicle?
2 Answers
The consequences of a car without antifreeze include affecting the heat dissipation effect of the radiator; in cold climates, it can also cause the engine or radiator to freeze, leading to engine failure; it is prone to freezing, causing the engine, radiator, or cooling system components to crack; in severe cases, it can lead to engine cylinder scuffing, and in hot weather, there is even a risk of vehicle self-ignition. What is antifreeze: The full name of antifreeze should be antifreeze coolant, meaning a coolant with antifreeze function. Antifreeze can prevent the coolant from freezing and expanding the radiator or freezing the engine cylinder block or head when the vehicle is parked in cold winter. The role of antifreeze: Antifreeze is a type of coolant containing special additives, mainly used in liquid-cooled engine cooling systems. Antifreeze has excellent properties such as preventing freezing in winter, preventing boiling in summer, and preventing scale and corrosion all year round.
I used to be naive about car maintenance and thought coolant was unnecessary, so I replaced it with plain water. Last winter, my car wouldn't start, and when towed to the repair shop, they found the radiator frozen and cracked, even causing slight deformation to the engine block. The repair cost over 3,000 yuan. The technician explained that coolant is crucial for antifreeze protection, corrosion resistance, and lubricating the water pump. Without it, the cooling system's boiling point drops in summer heat, leading to "boiling over" and steam; rust builds up quickly, clogging pipes and causing leaks; and over time, the water pump bearings wear out faster. Now, every autumn, I check the coolant's color and level to ensure the right mix for antifreeze protection down to -40°C, saving both hassle and money.
