All kinds of engines generate heat. Coolants ensure maintaining optimal operating temperature for the engine. Driving with low coolant is dangerous, it can overheat the engine and different parts of the vehicle. Let’s go through the symptoms, effects and risks of driving a vehicle with low coolant levels.
Effects of Driving with Low Coolant
The internal combustion of an engine produces a lot of heat and it is important to keep the temperature at optimal levels with the cooling system. Driving with low coolant can have the following effects.
The Vehicle Engine Could Overheat
Coolant pulls the heat away from the engine and helps maintain an optimal temperature. Without enough coolant level, the engine can overheat and seize. Using a vehicle with an overheated engine continuously can permanently damage various parts of the vehicle, including the pistons welding to the cylinders.
The Engine Head Gasket Could Blow
Sometimes, low coolant levels can cause a head gasket on the engine block to blow. When this happens, smoke emits from the engine or tailpipe, there is a loss of power, the vehicle engine makes knocking sounds and there is an overall decreased efficiency in the engine performance.
The Car Can Shut Off
Some cars have safety systems that shut the engine off automatically when the coolant level is low to avoid significant damage. Given this saves you from extensive repairs caused by an overheated engine, the car shutting off in the middle of the road can be very dangerous depending on where you are driving.
Damaged Engine Block
Driving with low coolant can damage or crack the engine block. This is because low engine coolant can create hotspots in the cooling system. The hotspots can result in extreme temperatures in the engine block, which can cause it to crack. A crack in the engine block or cylinder head is expensive to repair because the whole engine block has to be replaced. Moreover, a damaged engine block can also mix oil with the coolant, which further damages the engine’s performance.
Seized Engine
Most of the parts in the engine are made of metal, and metal components expand and contract depending on the temperature. If the engine overheats, the engine parts can expand to the extent that they damage and size the engine.
Water Pump Failure
Driving with low engine coolant can also result in a water pump malfunction. The water pump loses lubrication with insufficient levels of coolant. This increases the risk of water pump failure. A faulty water pump failure cannot move the coolant through the engine and radiation causes the engine to overheat.
Symptoms of Low Coolant Levels
Typically, the check coolant message appears on the vehicle’s dashboard when there are low levels of coolant in the car. Common symptoms of low coolant levels include:
High-temperature gauge starts fluctuating
One common sign of low coolant levels is the temperature gauge on the dashboard. This gauge is designed to tell you when the engine gets too hot. In normal situations, the gauge stays near the centre of the H (hot) and C (cold) symbols. That said, if the temperature gauge starts fluctuating between the two temperatures, it is a symptom of low coolant levels.
If the temperature gauge exceeds the normal working temperature, shut down your engine to prevent overheating and check the coolant levels.
The A/C system has stopped working
The coolant helps remove the heat from the vehicle. It regulates the flow of hot air into the cabin. However, if the car AC starts blowing hot air from the vents, check the coolant reservoir.
The Coolant Level Sensor illuminates
If the coolant light illuminates it means the coolant level is low. That said, a malfunctioning sensor may also turn the coolant check light on. Either way, check the coolant reservoir and refill it in case of low coolant levels. In case the sensor is faulty, here is how to replace the coolant temperature sensor.
How Long Can I Drive with Low Coolant
Vehicles can drive for a few kilometres without coolant or with low levels of coolant. That said, this can harm the engine and other parts of the vehicle severely. Coolant is a necessity for your car’s engine. A lot of risk has to be taken to drive with low coolant.
Driving with low coolant or no coolant in the engine for a long time can damage the primary and secondary engine components irreparably. The best thing to do when the vehicle is low on coolant is to stop and let it cool down.
Is It Safe to Drive With Low Engine Coolant
It is not safe nor advised to drive with low coolant levels. Insufficient coolant in the car cooling system can result in an overheated engine and subsequently damage the vehicle. Driving without coolant for just a few minutes can result in massive repair expenditure.
That is all about the symptoms of low coolant, driving with low coolant levels and their effects. Besides, coolants in the UAE are available in red, orange and green colours, here is the difference between coolant colours in cars.
Stay tuned to dubizzle car blog for more on car DIY solutions, maintenance and repair tips.
Related Posts
