Is it ok if I use mineral water instead of coolant in my car?

Question

I just wanted to know if it was okay to use mineral water for my car during emergencies. OR should I use normal water? (Tap)

Answer 1

In an emergency, why would you have access mineral water (evian?) but not other types of bottled water? If you happen to be in a supermarket parking lot, just buy distilled water, it's in the same section. If you are forced to use mineral or tap water make sure to flush your cooling system as soon as possible. The minerals will precipitate out and clog galleries and pumps like cholesterol does to arteries.

Answer 2

For an emergencie I guess I would use about anything. I have actually had to pee in a radiator while out offroading.

But I would change the coolant out as soon as practical.

Mineral water has minerals in it. When you put that under pressure and heat they tend to stick to stuff. As they stick more and more will stick to the rest. Eventually the coolant system gets blocked an fails. This would take a few months or longer. So in an emergency fill it up and drive it... When you repair the problem drain and fill per manufacturers recommendations.

Tap water is ok if you live in an area with soft water (very few minerals). I recommend distilled water mixed with appropriate coolant.

Happy Holidays

Answer 3

Hi. Only use straight water in an emergency. The coolant protects your internal engine parts (water pump) with lubricant also. The coolant is designed to protect from freezing and also protect from overheating. Good quality coolant is expensive, i know but it is worth the price. Mix with water...60 percent coolant and 40 percent water or 70 percent coolant and 30 percent water. I live in a hot climate so the latter works best for me. You can also buy 50/50 which is a bit cheaper. Straight coolant is also not good for some reason, but why i don't know. The coolant is designed for some mixing with water. If your car overheats it is probably suggesting a more serious problem. Racers use a product called "wetter water". Since racing engines get hot, this product supposedly disappates heat better and it cools the engine some. Hope this helps!! Good Luck!!

Answer 4

Is it ok if I use mineral water instead of coolant in my car?

If you wish to run a car on mineral instead of COOLANT, that is not a good idea. Today's "coolants" alter the boiling & freezing points of the water in your raditior. At 100 celius water boils and seperates into H and O2, steam may vaper lock your cooling system. And <0 celius water freezes and expands which can cause signican damage to your engine and cooling system.
A water and coolant mix is recommended, distilled water even better, mineral water if you have nothing else. As stated above most mineral waters have an additive that may created mineral deposits in the passages of your vehicles cooling systems, over time which may restrict the flow of your cooling system.

Answer 5

Yes...in an EMERGENCY, you can top off a tank with water, but you should get it back to a 50/50 mixutre as soon as possible. They make anti-freeze testers that you can get at a place like Pep-Boys for cheap.

As far as mineral water goes...there's nothing wrong with it in an emergency situation. In fact, if you use de-ionized mineral water, you will actually stop the corrosion in the areas where Aluminum meets up with Steel or Iron. Tap, mineral, Deerpark, de-ionized...it doesn't matter, just make sure to mix it with anti-freeze.

Answer 6

any kind of water is OK in an emergency. but if you want to flush your radiator and fill it with fresh coolant/water, you're better off using distilled water from the grocery store, mixed with engine coolant. usually 50/50 of each.

but the best like someone said is get a gallon of pre-mixed water/coolant and keep that in your car while you figure out why you're losing coolant and fix that problem before it becomes something serious.

you could have a water pump going bad that's eventually going to crap out, overheat the car, and leave you stranded coolant or not.

or could be a mad head gasket, getting coolant into the oil and vice versa. in which case you need to change that gasket, and change your oil and coolant.

or find the hose that's leaking coolant and repair/replace it. those rubber hoses used for coolant get old and worn out at the ends. i cut enough of the worn hose off the end and put it back that usually works a few times till the whole hose needs to be replaced.

Answer 7

realisticley you shouldnt put either in your coolant system instead you should carry mineral water and coolant mixed at 50%,50%of each in a bottle in the boot of your car, its the coolant that cools your radiator so thats very important to mix with distilled water or mineral water(very clean),hope this helps.

Answer 8

Do not use mineral water.

The best alternative to coolant would be distilled water. It would cut down on the mineral salts that would coat the radiator.

Answer 9

tap or mineral or coolant. its all ok , better than running on air, seriously.

Hope it helps, "Safety First". be sure of in case of emergency, do not add any kind of liquid to the radiator,
1st - dangerous
2nd - damage to the radiator and motor too.

Act with caution. Merry Christmas

Answer 10

mineral water includes minerals
use coolant