water as coolant?

[ingold]

will this hurt anything?
I've always ran just water(except winter) as coolant.
here lately I've noticed that the temp gauge goes up above half when i am sitting a while after driving. would this be because of the boiling point of the water, or would it be my thermo going bad?

[Cobalt]

I am a little rusty on coolant properties but I believe it is because you have the water boiling.

Antifreeze not only lowers the freezing temp when mixed in the right proportion with water but it also drastically increases the boiling point. My guess is that it is boiling and causing an air pocket near the thermostat housing causing it to take more pressure to be pushed by the water pump.

[magicdragon]

go to walmart spend 10 bucks and get some coolant

[dreamability]

Funny he used the word rusty.
I believe that it also corrodes your water ports, thermostat, water pump, ect.
Bad Idea to use water only. Use coolant always !!!

[rickyduckworth]

antifreeze raises the boiling point, lowers the freezing point and lubricates everything.

pure water is fine as a temp solution but you're just better off with an antifreeze/water mixture.

it also helps to keep your engine at a more average operating temperature which reduces the shrinking/expanding that metal goes through at certain temps, which in theory means your shit will last longer.

[ingold]

thanks guys

[wed3k]

if you're going to use water, add a bottle of water wetter. water is cooler than coolant, also remember to check your rad cap and its condition/rating

[deevergote]

Water will cause corrosion in some parts of the system, which can result in clogging.
If you aren't using pure distilled water, then the minerals can cause issues as well (tap water is a bad idea.)

You should never run pure water, unless you have a specific reason to do so. For a daily driven CB7, I don't imagine there is one.

[bcjammerx]

water also has no lubricating properties which your water pump needs for longer service.

No need to go 50/50 (do NOT buy premix btw waste of money)

save some cash and prolong the water pumps life...use 70% water 30% coolant...good to go.

[mtnbikaah]

water also has no lubricating properties which your water pump needs for longer service.

No need to go 50/50 (do NOT buy premix btw waste of money)

save some cash and prolong the water pumps life...use 70% water 30% coolant...good to go.

not if you are in a cold climate! 50/50 for us northerners is recommended for winter. I hear that in canada they do 60/40 coolant to water

[red07frontier]

You want to use deionized water. Distilled water promotes electrolosis.

[batever]

You want to use deionized water. Distilled water promotes electrolosis.

why does distilled water promote electrolysis?

wait--i'll have to get my water deionizer out!

If you buy the stuff from Honda it comes premixed 50/50. I presume deionized as well if it's indeed the case that deionized water is better for this purpose. It does cost some coin, though.

[batever]

I am a little rusty on coolant properties

Hey, Cobalt, nice pun!

[trouty]

i live in the virgin islands...no freakin winter...after seeing a couple heads warped firsthand, i vowed to use coolant alone..any problems with that?

[Cobalt]

Hey, Cobalt, nice pun!

Although off topic thank you