Is URINE an OK COOLANT in your car RADIATOR?

[AviatorTom]

It's Tuesday, after a holiday weekend (Labor Day in the US), time for a survival question...

If your car overheats in the middle of nowhere, and you have no water or anti-freeze, will urine be a reasonable coolant?

Simply put... is peeing in your radiator an OK thing to do if you run out of coolant?

[buzzword]

Chemically urea would help with freezing point depression in cold weather, but it's only like a 2% concentration. If you are trying to raise to the boiling point of water with 2% urea, you're not really get much bank for your buck. Maybe 0.18 degree Celsius. So you might as well just use non potable water you can find because the salts in urine would be corrosive to the vehicle so it's not the brightest idea. It's better than nothing is that's all you have to get to the next town, but not good for the life of the vehicle.

[buzzword]

*if...

[exitseven]

Yes, if you have a leak in your radiator it might stink but it will do the trick. Beer also workss good.

[AviatorTom]

@exitseven Beer works better if you drink it first. 😏

[exitseven]

@AviatorTom yes, you only rent beer anyway,

[Kayla45]

Never really thought about peeing into my car’s radiator before, would it work? Maybe, but I think the better question is for how long? What would be the side effect of having urine in the radiator?

I’d suspect it would be similar to using anything but windshield washing fluid just because you don’t have any. Bacteria would likely build up.

[Kayla45]

Thank you sir for the most helpful opinion! :)

[purplepoppy]

Quite a bit of salt in pee which won't do your car much good but otherwise it's going to be as effective as water. So I'd say if everyone in a full car has a full bladder it's better than nothing but a poor choice.

[magiusX26]

good catch on the saltiness. that will cause corrosion.

[WindAtMyBack]

In an emergency, just about any liquid is better than none. Without some kind of coolant, that engine will be toast VERY fast - we are talking seconds, not minutes.

BUT, if you are completely out of coolant, a little urine won't make any difference... but maybe if you had ten people in a van...

Personally I wouldn't do it. I'd just start walking.

Long term, that might damage some things, but short term it's better than nothing if you MUST get somewhere in the car. I could see urine corroding things. I could also see it leaking through the head gasket - which is not good at all.

[Stevepro68]

A six foot human male has at most 2000ml of urine in the bladder. Most people are in distress with 1 litre on the bladder. Urine is salty has a low boiling point. 1 litre of salty fluid is going to do nothing to cool an engine wnought to drive it without damage. Most cars will cool well if even half the coolant is gone. If it's over heating your are down 8 10 litre. your little bit of urine is a waste of time.

[normalice]

Mm, in an emergency it's probably fine as long as you flush (haha..) your coolant the instant you get the next chance.

But to be in such an emergency suggests your engine is actively running with no coolant. You do not want to turn it off and you definitely don't want to straddle the coolant inlet while adding any liquid to a 300 degree engine.

[Fireguy17]

any port in a storm on a temporary basis.
However, that little bit of pee that you have won't make much of a difference.
I've used a puddle to refill one once.

[CrazyGirl2]

Awww damnit! ANOTHER brilliant utilitarian reason to want a penis! Oh well, I guess I’ll have to use my fiancé’s.

[RebelinSteel]

Nope, I just call the AA and get recovery. Or the water you would drink to generate the pee, you use in the car. To get the pee you need to drink enough water, but a lot get absorbs the the body.

[AviatorTom]

@rebelinsteel You're in the middle of nowhere, you have no cellphone coverage, and there is no water in the car. What do you do?

[RebelinSteel]

I live in the UK, there are very few in the middle of nowhere.
A lot depends on how much water needs to be topped up and exactly why it over heated.
If you have zero coolant, then you are fucked,
I think my car takes like 14 litres of coolant.

[mandyfire98]

I didn't even know you could just pour water into a car honestly 😂

[Dargil]

Better than driving dry. But urine is salty an corrodes iron and steel.

[magiusX26]

its below middle (towards bad) as its both acidic and already quite warm. however its fine as an emergemcy breakfluid.

[DJB72]

I don't know, I just hope you're asking for a friend...

[LiamJHayden]

Only in an old VW Bus.

[Massageman]

Any port in a storm, but it seems more like a drop in the proverbial bucket.

[Dongie]

I have heard it is so. But only for emergency then flush good before adding the coolant.

[chrissykerdock]

i guess that would work then you might say cum and pre-cum

[Anonymous]

Most cars now are ok without it until you get to a mechanic (go right to the mechanic, don't wait 5 weeks).

[AviatorTom]

That's not true. No coolant will cause the engine to overheat and seize, totally destroying the engine,. It can happen in a matter of minutes.

[Anonymous]

Any noncombuatable liquid will work, but you won't he able to produce enough

[juliammm]

careful with the batteries..

[Anonymous]

the pee wouldn't be cool

[Dongie]

I like this answer. She has a point my pee is usually warm.

[Apple1996]

Probably not

[Anonymous]

I don't think so

[noohair]

Beats walking.

[msc545]

Yes!