Coolant is an important part of a car's engine, and its main role is to take away the heat inside and maintain the normal operating temperature of the engine. If the coolant is insufficient or fails, it can lead to high engine temperatures, damage, or malfunction. Therefore, when we find a coolant alarm, whether we should continue to drive is a very thought-provoking question.
First of all, we need to clarify what a coolant alarm is. Coolant alarm means that the coolant warning light on the dashboard of the car lights up, indicating that the coolant of the car is insufficient or failing. In general, the coolant capacity of the car may be less than 20% lower than the normal level after the coolant warning light is on.
When the coolant warning light is on, we can take the following actions:
1.Stop the car immediately and wait for the car to cool down.
2.Check the coolant capacity. If the coolant capacity is less than 20% of the normal level, coolant needs to be added.
3.Check the color of the coolant. Normal coolant should be clear and transparent, if the coolant becomes cloudy or discolored, it may be because the coolant has deteriorated or mixed with impurities and needs to be replaced.
4.Check the freezing point of the coolant. The freezing point of the coolant should be more than 10 below the local minimum temperature, if the freezing point is lower than the local minimum temperature, the coolant with a higher freezing point needs to be replaced.
So, should we keep driving when the coolant warning light is on?The answer is uncertain. It depends on the specific situation of the coolant running out or failing.
If the coolant capacity is less than 20% below the normal level, but the car does not have a high temperature alarm, you can continue driving, but you need to find a suitable place to add coolant as soon as possible. When adding coolant, you need to pay attention to choosing the correct brand, expiration date, whether it can be mixed, etc., and add the coolant correctly according to the guidance in the maintenance manual.
If the coolant capacity is less than 20% of the normal level, and the car has a high temperature alarm, you cannot continue driving, you need to stop immediately and wait for the car to cool down, and then add coolant. If the car's high temperature alarm appears frequently, it may be because the coolant is insufficient or failing, or it may be due to an engine failure that needs to be inspected and repaired as soon as possible.
If the coolant capacity is less than 20% of the normal level, and the car does not have a high temperature alarm, but the car has been driving for a long time or has traveled a long distance, you need to drive cautiously to avoid driving at high speed for a long time or being in a hot environment for a long time.
It is important to note that the coolant alarm is not the only manifestation of a car breakdown. Sometimes, other faults in the car can also cause coolant alarms, such as faulty sensors, faulty water pumps, faulty thermostats, etc. Therefore, when we find a coolant alarm, we need to conduct a comprehensive inspection and troubleshooting to ensure that the cooling system and engine of the car are operating properly.
In short, whether the coolant can continue to drive when the alarm is given depends on the specific situation. If the coolant capacity is less than 20% below the normal level, but the car does not have a high temperature alarm, you can continue driving, but you need to find a suitable place to add coolant as soon as possible. If the coolant capacity is less than 20% of the normal level, and the car has a high temperature alarm, you cannot continue driving, you need to stop immediately and wait for the car to cool down, and then add coolant. If the coolant capacity is less than 20% of the normal level, and the car does not have a high temperature alarm, but the car has been driving for a long time or has traveled a long distance, you need to drive cautiously to avoid driving at high speed for a long time or being in a hot environment for a long time.