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The radiator on my Peugeot 106 has started leaking very badly and need replacing. I don't have time to fix it at the moment, so I'm taking it to a garage. How far can I drive it without damaging the rest of the car? Or do I need to get it towed?

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6  
If you must drive you should stop very often and fill the radiator, cf. @Kjartan Þór Kjartansson's answer. This can be impossible (if the water literally spills out at the same rate that you can fill it) and/or dangerous (opening the radiator lid on a hot engine). Really, you should get it towed. – jensgram Mar 8 '11 at 9:24

4 Answers

up vote 12 down vote

In the case where you run it too hot, you could start messing up your head gasket or warping the head itself. If you have to, in a warm climate, use distilled water or just keep replacing the antifreeze until you can get it somewhere, after which you'll have to have the whole system flushed.

If you live in a cold climate your engine block could freeze and crack. Definitely do not use water in this case.

Are you just leaking from a hose or the radiator somewhere? You might already have a blown head gasket and you could be burning off the antifreeze in the engine. Is there any film or other liquid in your oil?

I would tow it if it's as bad as you say; head gasket repair can run $600 - $1,000 or more. A few bottles of antifreeze to get you there is obviously a considerably smaller investment (though I'm not sure how much your city will like you leaking antifreeze all over).

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+1 for good analysis of secondary issues. It's also worth noting that depending on the nature of the leak, it could get worse on the way to the shop. – S_Niles Mar 9 '11 at 0:09
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Why suggest putting antifreeze in a leaking cooling system?! If the weather is warm, there's no use and it's just pollution/mess. If the weather is cold enough that freezing is a concern while the engine is running (keep in mind, OP was planning to drive straight to the shop...), the ambient air temp with no liquid coolant would prevent the engine from overheating... – R.. Aug 23 '11 at 16:45
up vote 10 down vote

I would not recommend driving with an empty radiator, that could cause the engine to overheat as well as damaging the water pump.

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up vote 6 down vote

It depends on how much you are leaking. I've had a leak in a radiator and had to take it somewhere a few times, here's what I usually do.

  1. Fill the radiator completely full of water. If you can get it loaded, and it takes more than a few minutes to drain, you can proceed to step two.
  2. Drive slower than normal to your destination. Keep a spare gallon of water in your vehicle. Keep glancing at the temperature gauge. If you see it go above the mid line, then pull over immediately. Wait for the vehicle to cool down, and replace the antifreeze. Or else just call a tow company.

You should be able to take a vehicle at least 5, maybe 10, miles by following this advice. I should say that I live in an area that never freezes, so...

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...or just use pre-mixed coolant if water is not an option. I've also had some severe radiator and hose leaks that I've had to limp to the shop. Fill the system and the overflow, and get going. Lowest RPMs in the highest gear that you can get away with. – Brian Knoblauch Jun 17 '11 at 13:54
up vote 5 down vote

A much cheaper option then towing, but which will ensure that nothing gets damaged, is for you just to fix the leak temporarily on the spot with some putty. I've seen cheap putty specifically for the purpose of fixing leaking radiators sold at many gas/petrol filling stations.

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