You can use almost any liquid in a radiator, but water is not the best choice. Water boils at 100 degrees (and your engine gets way hotter than that), also it freezes at zero degrees and in many places it gets colder than that.
Engine Coolent is an additive that you add to water or replace the water in a radiator. Coolant raises the boiling temperature and lowers the freezing temperature so that your radiator will work in the widest possible circumstances.
Yes as long as it is mixed 50-50 with coolant/antifreeze.
Pure distilled water.
In a car the water pump circulates coolant through the engine and to the radiator.
The cooling system contains a 50/50 mixture of anti-freeze and distilled water. This coolant is stored in the radiator and overflow tank. The battery contains a 35% mixture of sulfuric acid and 65% distilled water. The windshield washer resivoir contains a mixture of distilled water, detergent, and an anti-freezing agent.
If you change the coolant as recommended in your owner's manual and use the proper coolant mixed 50/50 with distilled water the radiator can last the life of the car. Neglect this service and it may only last 10 years or less.
It's probably coolant, not water, could be from a cracked radiator.
For radiator leaks look for the following signs: The car will overheat Coolant level will frequently drop Pool of coolant or water under the car radiator Obvious leak noted from radiator on starting the car Faulty radiator cap causing the leak
It is leaking coolant or the radiator cap is faulty.
Not recommended to use straight water. You should add a mixture or 50% each of water and Anti-freeze when the coolant level is below the add mark on the reservoir. Use only distilled water to prevent minerals from corroding the radiator.
If you mean the water in your radiator, don't drive your vehicle until it thaws or your engine will overheat because no coolant will be flowing through it. You should keep 50% antifreeze and 50% distilled water in your car radiator at all times. (maybe slightly more antifreeze in cold winter weather) Water in the radiator won't freeze with antifreeze mixed with it.
If you can't see where its coming from, it may be a cracked head, or a bas headgasket. Also, when you add water to the coolant tank, it doesn't immediately go into the radiator. After the car sits a while, the radiator starts to cool, creating a vacuum. Water/coolant is then pulled into the radiator from the coolant tank.
You should see the coolant circulating in the radiator when the car is running