What Happens If There Is No Antifreeze in the Car?
4 Answers
If there is no antifreeze in the car, it will affect the heat dissipation effect of the radiator, preventing the car from achieving the necessary cooling function and disrupting normal circulation. This can lead to engine overheating and, in severe cases, cause engine burn-out. In cold climates, it may also result in the engine or radiator freezing, leading to engine failure and rendering the vehicle unusable. Antifreeze serves multiple purposes, including anti-freezing, cooling, corrosion prevention, and scale prevention, ensuring the car can operate normally in cold weather without freezing and helping to cool down the high-temperature engine. When antifreeze is lacking, it is recommended to pull over, turn off the engine to lower the temperature, and only resume driving after the engine temperature has decreased. Driving time should not be prolonged, and antifreeze should be replenished promptly.
Last time my cousin's car ran out of coolant and kept driving, which caused the engine to fail completely. Coolant isn't just for preventing freezing in winter—it's essentially the air conditioning system for the engine. Without coolant in the radiator, the engine can't dissipate heat, and the temperature gauge will skyrocket in no time. I've personally seen engine cylinder heads warp from overheating, and when the mechanics opened it up, the pistons inside had melted. It’s even worse during summer road trips—if you get stuck in traffic, the engine can overheat and start billowing white smoke. Winter is even more dangerous: at sub-zero temperatures, the water in the radiator can freeze and expand, potentially cracking the entire radiator. I recommend checking the coolant level in the overflow tank every month—if it’s below the minimum line, top it up immediately.
After driving this old car for ten years, the biggest lesson I've learned is never to neglect the coolant. Many people don't realize that coolant actually serves three functions: antifreeze, anti-boil, and anti-corrosion. If the radiator runs empty, the entire water circulation system collapses. When the engine operates, temperatures can soar above 90 degrees Celsius. Without coolant for cooling, metal components will deform and expand. The water pump shaft seal burns out first, followed by the cylinder head gasket being blown by hot gases, and finally the piston rings seize, causing cylinder scoring. Last time, a friend took a shortcut by adding tap water directly. Three months later, the cooling passages were completely clogged with scale, and the repair cost exceeded the price of ten bottles of coolant.
Running a car without coolant is like letting the engine run naked. The engine operates at temperatures close to 100°C, relying entirely on the coolant to transfer heat to the radiator. If the cooling system is empty, the water temperature will skyrocket and trigger an alarm within minutes. The most dangerous situation I've encountered was when the coolant warning light suddenly came on during a long highway drive. I immediately pulled over and found that all the coolant had leaked out. Later, I discovered that the radiator hose had aged and cracked. Continuing to drive could warp the cylinder head, and in severe cases, the entire engine could be ruined. It's recommended to check the coolant level in the overflow tank monthly to ensure it's between the min and max marks.
