Is it ok to use regular water instead of anti-freeze?

Question

I cant offer $ 30 for anti-freeze . Can I just warm-up my car longer whenever the weather gets below zero. Here ,sometimes reach -25.

Answer 1

Here is the science behind anti-freeze VS water:

Water freezes at 32 degrees. As it freezes it applies pressure to whatever it is contained within. This pressure can then cause this container (read: engine block, hoses and a radiator) to be put under stresses that it was not designed to be put under.

Scenario #1: Although the first time the water freezes nothing may appear to have happened the damage has already begun. As the water thaws and the pressure is relieved it then allows the container some relief. However this is short lived as the water temperature begins to climb and now the pressure is building up in the form of hot water. Radiators are around 15psi which is enough to make the water steam at 185 degrees. This steam is more permeable than the ice was and it causes more stress at the already weakend points. This continues until finally something actually crakcs enough to break the integrity of the 'container.

Scenario #2: You go out to warm up your car after the water has frozen in the engine and radiator. The damage has been done already. Your radiator cracks and while you are driving to work, home, school, wherever your car suddenly overheats/quits in freezing weather you become stranded somewhere with no heat, no car and only a prayer. When you get rescued your attempt at saving a few bucks in antifreeze has cost you anywhere from a few hundred bucks for a radiator replaced by a mechanic to a few thousand dollars for an engine replaced by a mechanic

Scenario #3: The water freezes and begins to melt as the engine heats up. The engine heats up but there is still some ice in the system. The thermostat opens and begins to circulate the water to help keep the engine cool. Water pumps are meant to pump liquid. As they pump slush they begin to wear down and get damaged. Imagine either of the scenarios abov or a combination of the two only NOW add in the cost of a WATER PUMP...

Anti-Freeze is designed to do one thing... reduce the temperature that water freezes at. This is because the antifreeze has a lower freezing point than water. From your $30 price tag I presume that you are paying someone to put it in as opposed to doing it yourself? Because if you were doing it yourself it shouldn't cost anywhere near that amount of money. You probably only need one or two gallons at most to mix with water to fill your radiator.

My suggestion is this:

Go to Pep Boys or AutoZone and have them sell you a car care manual for your make and model (about $15)

THEN

sit down and look through the book focusing on how to change the radiator fluid. Look in the part of the book with the specifications and see how many gallons your radiator holds.

THEN

Go to Wal Marrt and look at the antifreeze. On the back it will have a temperature guide showing how to mix it for various temperature ranges. Choose the ratio for the coldest it normally gets where you live. You will probably need 2 gallons (about $12 - $15)

Go home and do it yourself! It won't save you any money but you will learn how to do something that you will need every year AND you will get a book out of the deal too! Ask a friend, neighbor, relative, churchgoer for help if you really feel uncomfortable with the task.

By doing this it will also allow you to save $25 - $35 every couple months when you need to change the oil which is only slightly more difficult than changing the antifreeze!

If/When you need a new battery you will laugh at how easy that is and save more money!

You will be amazed at how many 'little' things you can do with just a few tools and a car care book!

One day you may even decide to save HUNDREDS of dollars and replace your own brakes!

Trust me...buy the book and the antifreeze.
You wont need anything more than those two things, a bucket and maybe a pair of pliers to help open the radiator drain spigot.

If you find that it wans't such a big deal (and it wont be!) later on you may decide to spend another $30 on a wrench/socket kit which will allow you to do even more money saving, simple, car repairs.

Good Luck!

PS.. if you do it yourself be sure to clean up any spilled antifreeze. Animals and children are drawn to it because it tastes/smells 'sweet' but it's really a nasty way for a family pet to die!

And if you don't do it yourself don't risk your car trying to save $30 pay someone else to do it for you!

Answer 2

Perhaps if you cannot aford the $30 for anti-freeze, then you cannot aford a car. No, do not go with straight water. If the temperature drops below freezing, the water in your engine will freeze and hopefully, all that will happen is it will force the blow out plugs to work. If they don't you WILL need a whole new engine. Anti-freeze is designed to not freeze until it reaches a temperature well below zero degrees farenheit. It is also designed to not boil or turn to steam (via vaporization) where water would normally boil and vaporize. Give up smoking for a week or what ever other vice it is you have to "Make it through" and buy the anti-freeze.

Answer 3

Water freezes at 32 degrees F. Water mixed with coolant freezes below zero degrees F. How far below depends on the formula.

The diluted antifreeze/coolant does not escape to some special chamber when the engine is not running. It stays in the water jacket surrounding the engine and in the radiator.

If you cannot afford $30 for antifreeze, how much can you afford for a new engine?

Answer 4

no - No - NO -
You will actually use anti-freeze mixed with water (not pure antifreeze) Water freezes at 32 degrees (f); antifreeze much colder, depending on your mix - but easilly well below zero degrees (f).
If you just use plain water, and the outside temp gets cold enough for water to freeze (remember water expands when it freezes) you could end up with busted hoses, holes in the radiator - or in worst case a crack in engine block or cylinder head.

Second reason: If your engine block and all connected components (radiator, heater core, etc) are not aluminum - remember that pure water promotes rusting in steel- an antifreeze mix retards rusting.

Third reason: if your cooling system is not completely sealed -- pure water will evaporate or boil away much more quickly - you could end up with low coolant level without realizing it.

If you ever put water in your cooling system in an emergency -- add antifreeze as soon as possible thereafter.

Answer 5

No, it isn't okay. Water only in the cooling system will cause corrosion and it will freeze. It will destroy the engine the first time it freezes and even if you were in a warm climate, it would just take more time for the corrosion to ruin the engine. Get some anti freeze.

Answer 6

You can buy anti-freeze at the auto parts place for about seven dollars and ask them what you need to do and they will help you with your problem. If you just don't do anything you will just end up with a problem more worse than 30 dollars just look at what all these other people have said they all say the same thing. Good luck !

Answer 7

I imagine if you are just adding a little water with the anti-freeze that is in your car you should be fine. Normally your anti-freeze is 50% water already so you don't want to dilute too much.

Answer 8

What kind of car requires $30 for anti-freeze? Mine held less than a container of it for $6.50... use the $30 you would on going out to eat or something and save yourself a lot of money and headache in repairs. And am I doing something wrong if I didn't spend $30 for antifreeze?

Answer 9

In most cases it is a good idea to use a 50/50 mix of both in the car unless it is a brand new car like 06 or 07 if so I would consult with a local auto mechanic. Or buy a Hanes manual for the vehicle and see what it says in there. You should be able to find one of those manuals at your local parts store.

Answer 10

antifreeze preforms 3 tasks. Protects against adverse temperature both freezing and boil over, has a protectant against corrosion and a lubricant for the water pump all three VERY important to the longevity of your engine A 50/50 mix is recommended by almost every manufacturer and mechanic worth his salt