Driving Your Car Without Coolant: Is It Possible?
Driving without coolant is a surefire way to shorten the life span of your vehicle. Think about it like this. If someone left you in the middle of a scorching desert at the peak of summer without any water, would you be able to make the marathon-length walk back to civilization? More likely than not, the answer is "no."
Excluding EVs, your car's engine uses fire to make power; obviously, fire is hot. Coolant is what keeps the heat in check. Without it, you could be in real danger when driving without coolant. Learn more about coolant troubles below, and visit the Don Williamson Nissan service center for all your cooling system needs.
Can You Drive Without Coolant?
There is never a scenario where driving without coolant is a good idea. That's because any car without coolant will usually stop functioning within minutes, and it is more likely than you not that you will need a complete engine replacement to be able to drive again.
Why? Coolant fluid is pumped through and cooled down by your vehicle's radiator. It's then sent through the engine block and cylinder heads and around the combustion chamber to extract the constantly generated heat from your engine.
When there's no coolant to do this essential job, the heat rises, rises, and rises until, eventually, your engine overheats and the metal starts to melt. With hundreds of moving metal parts in your engine and several gaskets keeping key engine components sealed, no coolant in the car means no way to stop irreparable destruction. This can also put you at a greater risk of road accidents.
That's why the moment you notice leaking coolant or a low coolant dashboard warning light, you should seek a comprehensive coolant service.
In short, the answer to "Can you drive without coolant?" is a resounding "No," and ignoring the low or no coolant warning signs can result in a vehicle that no longer functions.
No Coolant in Car: Symptoms & Fixes
The "no coolant in car" symptoms should never be ignored. The first and most glaring sign will be your car's temperature gauge steadily rising. When your engine is properly warmed up and filled with the correct amount of coolant, the gauge should consistently stay at a specific point on the temperature meter. Any gauge movement above this point is cause for concern and may mean that you're driving without coolant.
Other signs of no coolant in the car include an air conditioning system that blows hot even if the temperature controls are set to cold. This may be a sign of faulty air conditioning components, though. However, if that hot air combines with a sweet, chemical-like smell, that's the smell of burning coolant, and it can indicate that your vehicle's cooling system has developed a leak.
Check for leaks under your vehicle regularly. Coolant is usually a bright green color, though it can sometimes be bright orange, pink, blue, or yellow; any fluorescent-hued fluid is a likely candidate. If you see any on the ground or splashed on underbody vehicle components, there is likely a coolant leak somewhere in your vehicle and possibly no coolant in the car. Make sure to keep your pets away from any puddles of this sort you discover.
The fixes range in intensity depending on what has caused the coolant loss. Whatever the case may be, don't go driving without coolant. Instead, call our service center for help and competitively priced repairs. You should also get coolant fluid from our auto parts store, as well as other tools that will help you take care of your car at home or on the road.
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