Is it bad if my car is leaking coolant?

Often when a cylinder head gasket leak starts, it’s not long before you have major coolant loss. And while it’s bad enough if the coolant leaks outside of your engine, if it leaks inside, you will see a reduction in power, increased emissions and the potential for major engine damage due to mixing oil and coolant.

Are coolant leaks a big deal?

Coolant leaks might not seem like a big deal, but it could create a hazardous situation for your car’s engine. Without the proper amount of antifreeze, your engine could overheat (or freeze in winter months). Because it plays such a critical role in how well your engine runs, coolant should be checked regularly.

What does it mean when your radiator is leaking coolant?

What Is A Coolant/Antifreeze Leak? A coolant/antifreeze leak can occur for a variety of reasons, including a blown radiator hose, a bad hose clamp, warped head gasket, or the most common reason, a foreign object kicked up by the truck in front of you penetrating the radiator itself. Removing the radiator cap.

Can a lack of coolant cause damage to your radiator?

Coolant helps pull heat away from the engine. So, without enough coolant, the engine could overheat or seize up. Continued use of an overheated engine could lead to permanent damage, such as pistons welding to the cylinders.

Why is my car leaking coolant but not overheating?

Chances are you have either a radiator cap leak, internal coolant leak or an external coolant leak. The longer you wait the higher the coolant leak repair cost will be.

How far can you drive without coolant?

However, if you absolutely must start your car without coolant, it can probably run for about a minute without too much risk of damage. You may be able to get away with as much as 5 minutes of running without coolant, depending on the engine, car model, and how hard you’re asking the engine to work.