dangers of running water no coolant

[hipwell]

Still not had time to see where my leak is coming from due to work etc.

I cleaned all the cleaning system out becuase previous owner had filled it with rad weld, but ive not put any coolant in for it to just leak back out over the week (it looses about half a header tank a week)

What are the dangers of running it with just water in the summer as its obviously not going to freeze up.

someone mentioned that the water pump wont have as much lubrication??..

 

[Budgie]

Won't be a problem.

 

[f0xy]

Ive never had any issues, although my radiator was still half full of coolant. Rest was just water

 

[hipwell]

OK cheers, so it should be ok for a few months just running water untill i get some time to get it sorted before the winter? Ive got some coolant but just seems a waste to put it in for it to leak back out.

 

[Will.]

Using vodka FTW

 

[adam1942]

it'd be cheaper to fix if its leaking that much will

 

[Moz168]

Ran one of mine on just water for about 6 months. No problems.
I didnt care about that car though.

 

[sideways danny]

coolant has corrosion inhibitors. You dont want to run without coolant for extended periods. In the short term it will be fine, although it's likely to get hot easier

 

[hipwell]

OK cheers lads, ill have to get it sorted soon then. Picking my new temp sensor up tomorow as i think thats playing up, then ill get onto the rad and getting a decat fitted.

 

[Jonff]

Lad at work ran his fiesta on just water for months. After a while the water turned brown and looked awful, then it developed a leak and covered the engine bay in this brown coloured water.

 

[hipwell]

hmm, take it thats rust then?

 

[Jonff]

Yeah, as Danny said there's anti oxidants in the anti freeze which prevents rust inside the engine. God knows what it's like inside that Fiesta's engine because the water was purely brown. Looked awful.

 

[Mells]

Circa £160 for a new rad from renault. I did mine a couple of weeks ago after the usual hole in the back of the rad from the fan housing.

 

[aucky]

Danger: legionella

 

[hipwell]

Circa £160 for a new rad from renault. I did mine a couple of weeks ago after the usual hole in the back of the rad from the fan housing.

funny you say that actually, i did my rad yesterday with one from bullseye, cost me 120 and tenner for coolant. The old rad had a hole in it directly inline with the fan housing but i just couldnt get my head round it as the fan housing wasnt even toutching the bit of the rad which looked asif it had been rubbed on for ages.