Why You Shouldn’t Fill Your Radiator Only with Water
Water alone can cool your engine, so why do you need coolant at all? Typically, radiators are filled with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water. Coolant - also known as antifreeze - is specially formulated to cool and protect your engine more than water alone ever could. Coolant is added for the following reasons:
- To keep the water in your radiator and engine from freezing in cold temperatures.
- To prevent the water from overheating no matter what the exterior temperature.
- To help lubricate the components in the cooling system.
- To prevent the water from rusting and corroding the system’s internal parts.
Take a look at the diagram below to see all the components of a vehicle's HVAC system.