Yes. The danger is, that when water freezes it expands, when it turns to ice. The coolant galleries inside the engine block may suffer cracking, if there is no where for the ice to expand to. You may be lucky and the core plugs will blow out instead. (Still a lot of work to put right).
Antifreeze lowers the point of freezing and prevents this expansion problem.
Antifreeze helps the engine run cooler in the hot months and prevents the coolant from freezing in cold weather.
Antifreeze is used in cars to prevent the engine's cooling system from freezing in cold temperatures and to raise the boiling point of the coolant to prevent overheating. It also helps prevent corrosion and rust in the cooling system components.
Vehicle manufacturers recommend a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze/water in the cooling system all year round. The antifreeze helps the engine run cooler in hotter weather and prevents freezing in colder weather.
Vehicle may overheat (low coolant) Engine may freeze in cold weather (protection from freezing not adequate)
It stops your car from freezing and not starting up in cold weather
When the engine is cold , the coolant ( antifreeze and preferably distilled water mixed 50 / 50 , no more than 60 % antifreeze ) is up to the cold mark in the engine coolant white plastic reservoir
In the event that it over-heats and seizes, then yes. If your cooling fliud is plain water, and the engine hasn't frozen, then lack of antifreeze should not affect things in the short term. It is obviously desirable to have antifreeze in cold weather so the the enginge doesn't freeze. As above, if there is no cooling fluid at all, the engine will over-heat and sieze up.
Antifreeze does 2 things. First it protects your engine when the outside temperature is below freezing and the vehicle is not running. If the coolant freezes it could crack your engine block requiring a new engine. Caution: 100% antifreeze will also freeze up if it gets too cold. For best results you have to mix antifreeze and water. Check the antifreeze container for correct mixture. Antifreeze also has other things in it that keeps the water pump in good shape, prevents corrosion of the the radiator and helps transfer heat out of the engine. You need it even in hot weather.
Your engine should be cold ( to be on the safe side) when adding antifreeze/coolant. i let the car sit overnight and then add it.
No , on my vehicle there is a cold fill mark . When the engine is cold the engine coolant should be up to the cold fill mark
Heavier, more parts to make and maintain, liquid coolant can be corrosive to metals and can leak/ dry up. Must use antifreeze during cold weather.
Antifreeze, or engine coolant, is a liquid used to transport heat away from an engine. Antifreeze is mixed with water to lower the freezing point of the liquid to protect components in cold temperatures.