2006-09-27 03:50:59 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
A moron that I knew put water in the radiator. When the car was overheating. Then the cold water cracked the block.
2006-10-02 19:15:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends. Well, first, you don't put water in at all. You put in coolant, which ever is designed for your vehicle, the old green or the newer type. You can get it pre-mixed at the right 50-50 level, and that is best to use. Yeah, I know, why pay for water? Well, because they use water without all the minerals you will find in your city water supply.
Now, it it has overheated, and that is why you are adding coolant, it's best to let it cool down before adding. Also that is the safest way. But if you can't wait, it gets a little complicated. If the engine has gotten really hot, and you just pour in cold water, it could cause damage.
Get a bunch of rags, put them over the radiator cap and turn it carefully to the first release position. This will take the pressure off, and you may get steam and/or boiling water shooting out, so be very very careful and be ready to move out of the way.
Once the dramatic steam and water is done doing it's thing, with another rag take the cap the rest of the way off. Now, start the engine and slowly...repeat...slowly add coolant to it. Pause, add a little more. Keep going until it finally reaches the top of the radiator. You probably still have a bit of an air bubble, but it should now read about normal temperature on the guage, so put the cap on and fill the overflow bottle to the 'hot' line.
Watch for a bit, to see if there is an obvious leak somewhere. If there is, fix it if you can. If you can't, and home isn't too far, drive it home. Loosen the cap to the first position. If home is way too far to drive it, and you can't fix the leak, you are about to experience the joys of tow trucks. Just take it to the nearest mechanic that can fix it. Ask the driver who he would take his car to...
2006-09-27 04:03:29 · answer #2 · answered by oklatom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
never put straight water in the car. always use at least a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. plus if you put cold water in a hot engine the water cold cause the block or head to crack due to the quick temperature change. antifreeze is a lubricant for your water pump. straight water will rust the internal parts of your engine over time and cause even more problems. the correct way to fill your system is to take the car while it is cold and take the radiator cap off. start your car and watch the level of fluid in your radiator. top it off as the car gets up to temperature. try to keep the fluid level with the top of cores not the neck of the radiator. once your car is up to heat and the antifreeze is moving threw out the engine shut the cap and top of you reservoir. if you have a leak that you cant get fixed right now don't put your cap on tight.this will allow the engine to not make pressure so the leak will not be as bad. most caps hold 15 pounds of pressure so thats 15 pounds pushing out the hole. the leak will still be there so you will have to get it fixed soon.
2006-10-03 19:38:35 · answer #3 · answered by joe 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put Water In Radiator
2016-11-12 04:26:47 · answer #4 · answered by tameka 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
do you put water in the radiator with the engine on or off?
2015-08-06 16:04:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never put just water in the radiator.
You need a 50/50 blend of antifreeze and water.
Also, fill the resovior not the radiator unless you have drained the whole system out first.
You can fill the resovoir anytime just pay attention to the hot vs cold fill line.
2006-09-27 03:56:39 · answer #6 · answered by jkduehring 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Always fill from cold unless its an emergency.The reason for this is that modern cooling systems operate under pressure and you could scald yourself.Removing a radiator cap when the engine is hot is bad practice.Note there are usually 2 marks on the expansion tank or header tank the lower mark is when engine cold the other is for when its at normal running temp.Regards Mick UK
2006-09-27 04:02:48 · answer #7 · answered by mick 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The danger is not putting the coolant in the rad. The danger is removing the rad cap. Once you have safely done that, you MUST have the engine running, and pour in very slowly. This way the water pump will circulate the coolant as you are pouring in, and you will not get airlocks in the system. If you fill with engine off, you will have air trapped in the system, and this will prevent proper circulation when you start up.....result: overheating.
2006-09-27 16:16:02 · answer #8 · answered by Louis C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best answer was given by the 36 year experience mechanic. Unless the radiator is empty, fill it using the overflow tank. If the radiator is really low, it will suck it right in.
Also, use the mixture, not just water.
Norm
2006-10-05 03:23:02 · answer #9 · answered by nikonphotobug 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the engine is hot or mostly empty then while the car is on because it will crack the radiator or engine if the water is to cold, if the water is mostly or all empty then on so you can make sure there is water on both sides of the thermostat, if niether then colsd is fine.
2006-10-03 18:17:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋