
Keeping this in consideration, can you put water in the radiator?
Can you use tap water in your radiator?
Can you put tap water in your radiator?
Your car’s radiator is an important part of its cooling system, and it’s crucial to keep it in good working order. But what happens if you need to add fluid to your radiator and you’re in a bind? Can you just add water, or do you need to use a coolant?
The answer is, it depends. If your car is newer and it has a closed cooling system, then you can probably get away with adding just water to the radiator. However, if your car is older or it has an open cooling system, then you’ll need to use a coolant.
Let’s take a closer look at each type of cooling system to see why this is the case.
Closed Cooling System
A closed cooling system is sealed, and it doesn’t allow air to enter. Usually, closed cooling systems are found in newer cars.
The advantage of a closed cooling system is that it’s less likely to overheat because there’s no air in the system to cause problems. The disadvantage is that it can be more expensive to maintain because you can’t just add water when you need to top off the fluid level.
Open Cooling System
An open cooling system is not sealed, and it allows air to enter. Open cooling systems are more common in older cars.
The advantage of an open cooling system is that it’s less expensive to maintain because you can just add water when you need to top off the fluid level. The disadvantage is that it’s more likely to overheat because there’s air in the system that can cause problems.
So, Which Should You Use?
If your car has a closed cooling system, then you should use a coolant. If your car has an open cooling system, then you can probably get away with just using water.
Of course, it’s always best to consult your car’s owner’s manual to be sure. And if you’re ever in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and use a coolant.