I just blew a coolant hose the other day. I was able to order one at Autozone and it will be here in time for my weekend at my friends cabin. However, I want to replace all of the coolant related hoses. (if one went they all sure will sometime in the near future.) Unfortunately, the others that I need ordered will not be here in time, but I need my car. I know you can use straight water, in the summer, in a normal motor but will it hurt to use straight water as coolant TEMPORARILY until my other hoses arrive. I just don't want to pay for coolant only to have to drain it off again, lose it and have to buy more, and I don't have anything to catch it in. Will water hurt my engine for a few days?

 

No problem what so ever unless it drops to or near freezing. Otherwise no, it will be fine. I ussualy run close to straight water. Though I use water wetter most of the time I run straight water.

 

I wouldnt reccomend running straight water. Coolant not only keeps the system from freezing, it also helps to lubricate the water pump, and it has rust inhibiting properties. Dumping a bottle of water wetter in an otherwise water filled system works perfectly for me.

 

you really should just get 1 bottle extra of coolant and before you change the hoses drain the system into a drain pan.... since the coolant is new anyways after you put new hoses on you can put the coolant back.... i say the extra bottle because you will prob loose a little

 

Using some coolant also helps protects against isolated hotspots.
For short term use during the summer it shouldn't be any problem running straight water, but I wouldn't recommend it for long term use, even with water wetter.

 

Coolant also raises the boiling temperature of the water... And since your car is running just below boiling temperature, it creates a safe buffer zone if you ever DID overheat... Boiling water = pressure = popped hoses/seals/etc.

generally a bad idea to run without coolant.

 

Run distilled/de-ionized water and add a qt. of antifreeze, you'll be fine until the other hoses can be replaced. That is the cheapest option for protecting your entire cooling system.

 

I've heard from a few people that water wetter kills coolant seals, may wanna consider using something else.

 

TEMPORARILY is fine.
Get the coolant in there as soon as you can...


-Ted