![]() It can cause internal rust, overheating, and other issues with your engine if you only use water. It is definitely not recommended to use only water for long-term use, even if you live in a warm climate. However, never drive with only water in the long run. It is recommended to fill the system with the correct coolant mix immediately after repairing the leak. You can use water instead of coolant in emergency situations when you only have access to water. Read our comprehensive guide on how to do a coolant flush.Īt Prestone, our coolant/antifreeze is tested in all extremes, so you can trust it to take care of your car’s engine and cooling system all year round.Right Way to Add Coolant Can You Use Water Instead of Coolant? This will bleed any air from the radiator and cooling system before you replace the pressure cap. The fix: When flushing the radiator and cooling system, make sure you run the engine with the pressure cap off for 15 minutes after refilling the system. Higher operating temperature, which could lead to overheating.These usually happen after a coolant/antifreeze flush, when not enough coolant/antifreeze is added to the system to expel any remaining air. Air Pockets in the RadiatorĪir pockets in the radiator can cause blockages as coolant/antifreeze circulates through the engine. Make sure the cap is replaced with an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) component, or one directly recommended by the manufacturer. The fix: If a fault develops with the pressure cap, it will need to be replaced before the pressure change can cause damage to the radiator. Bubbling in the coolant/antifreeze reservoir.If the cap develops a fault or is replaced with one that’s not compatible with the system, air can get into the system and cause problems. To maintain pressure, cooling systems rely on a pressurised cap that keeps the system at a constant pressure while allowing coolant/antifreeze to flow to the expansion reservoir. These do provide safe, permanent repairs – just follow the instructions carefully. This can be expensive though, so if you want to save some money you could use a leak repair fluid at home. The fix: Getting the leak fixed by a professional is one option. Bubbles in the coolant/antifreeze reservoir.This can cause the engine to overheat very quickly, and you should pull over immediately before it gets worse. When a head gasket blows, compressed air from the cylinders can rapidly enter the cooling system, leading to bubbling in the reservoir and coolant/antifreeze seeping into the cylinder head. Below, we list some of the areas prone to fault that can let air into the system, and offer practical advice on how to fix it. How does air get in the system and how can I fix it?Īs touched on above, there are several reasons why air can get into the cooling system, and these range from minor issues to severe mechanical problems. Whether it’s a faulty pressure cap or crack in the engine block, if the pressure at which the coolant/antifreeze flows through the engine is affected by a leak, the fluid will reach boiling point causing the engine to overheat. With a head gasket leak, overheating can happen rapidly, with white steam pouring from beneath the bonnet. This means that the cooling system steadily fills with air as the liquid leaks into the cylinders, reducing the liquid pressure of the system which causes the fluid to reach boiling point. At the same time, coolant/antifreeze flows into the cylinder head through the leak in the head gasket. In the case of a blown head gasket, air enters the cooling system and causes bubbling. Cooling systems are pressurised to raise the boiling point of the fluid, with the pressure cap and the overflow helping to raise the temperature at which the coolant/antifreeze boils. When there’s a leak in the cooling system, the pressure of the liquid drops and so does the boiling point of the coolant/antifreeze. Why does air in the cooling system cause overheating? This escaped air causes bubbling in the coolant/antifreeze reservoir, which can often be mistaken for boiling.Īside from a blown head gasket, there are several other causes for air inside in the cooling system, which we’ll come to later. ![]() One of the most common causes is a blown head gasket, in which the air pressure inside the cylinder heads is transferred to the cooling system. When air gets into this sealed system, air pockets can form and cause blockages, which can lead to bubbling and overheating.īubbling indicates rising air pressure in the cooling system, which is a sign that the flow of liquid is blocked by a pocket of air. ![]() Cooling systems in most cars are pressurised, and rely on a leak-free closed circuit of hoses to pump coolant/antifreeze around the engine.
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