Engine Coolant Low
Engine Coolant Low Just a few quick questions to ease my mind on this:
1) Do I have to use the DexCool coolant or is any type of engine coolant fine?
2) I checked the level and the coolant is low (so the sensor is fine), do I just need to pour some more in till the lvl returns to the acceptable range?
3) Where is the easiest place to buy? (just dont want to go to one store and have them not carry what I need)
I know these are stupid questions but I havent changed the coolant on this car yet and wanted to make sure there arent any special things I may not know.
Thanks
1) Do I have to use the DexCool coolant or is any type of engine coolant fine?
2) I checked the level and the coolant is low (so the sensor is fine), do I just need to pour some more in till the lvl returns to the acceptable range?
3) Where is the easiest place to buy? (just dont want to go to one store and have them not carry what I need)
I know these are stupid questions but I havent changed the coolant on this car yet and wanted to make sure there arent any special things I may not know.
Thanks
If its not that low just top it off with water. You can get Dexcool at any auto parts store. Just use Dexcool.
Proper way to top it off though: Start the engine (cold) with the radiator cap off, wait there until you see the coolant start to flow (maybe 10 minutes), then top it off. Wait for the flow to stop, wait again for it to flow and top it off again. Done. Now you should have the system completely fuill with no air in there.
Proper way to top it off though: Start the engine (cold) with the radiator cap off, wait there until you see the coolant start to flow (maybe 10 minutes), then top it off. Wait for the flow to stop, wait again for it to flow and top it off again. Done. Now you should have the system completely fuill with no air in there.
Its below the "Low Lvl" marker on the dipstick. Is that to low for just water?
And should I be adding the coolant into the radiator? Or should it go into the black reservoir where the dipstick is?
And should I be adding the coolant into the radiator? Or should it go into the black reservoir where the dipstick is?
Just leave that tank alone, don't fill it with anything. Mine has been 100% dry since I've owned my car, 11 years now.
And then still open it up slow with a big thick towel overthe cap as you twist it off. Just in case it spits some out, it'll take your skin off if it spits steam out.
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No, no, no, I respectfully dissagree with LS6427 about not filling the overflow tank to the correct level. Checking the radiator for coolant like he advises isn't a bad idea, though.
These cars are designed to both purge to the overflow tank, and draw from it to refill the radiator. If your system is operating correctly, as the engine heats up, fluid will go from the radiator to the overflow. As the radiator cools, coolant from the tank is sucked back into the radiator.
Keep the overflow tank at the correct level to avoid drawing air back into the radiator. From what I've seen, air in a hot radiator causes dexcool to turn into sludge.
These cars are designed to both purge to the overflow tank, and draw from it to refill the radiator. If your system is operating correctly, as the engine heats up, fluid will go from the radiator to the overflow. As the radiator cools, coolant from the tank is sucked back into the radiator.
Keep the overflow tank at the correct level to avoid drawing air back into the radiator. From what I've seen, air in a hot radiator causes dexcool to turn into sludge.
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Verdad Gallardo No, no, no, I respectfully dissagree with LS6427 about not filling the overflow tank to the correct level. Checking the radiator for coolant like he advises isn't a bad idea, though.
These cars are designed to both purge to the overflow tank, and draw from it to refill the radiator. If your system is operating correctly, as the engine heats up, fluid will go from the radiator to the overflow. As the radiator cools, coolant from the tank is sucked back into the radiator.
Keep the overflow tank at the correct level to avoid drawing air back into the radiator. From what I've seen, air in a hot radiator causes dexcool to turn into sludge.
These cars are designed to both purge to the overflow tank, and draw from it to refill the radiator. If your system is operating correctly, as the engine heats up, fluid will go from the radiator to the overflow. As the radiator cools, coolant from the tank is sucked back into the radiator.
Keep the overflow tank at the correct level to avoid drawing air back into the radiator. From what I've seen, air in a hot radiator causes dexcool to turn into sludge.
With that said:
The over-flow reservoir is the one thing I really don't understand.
The only way for water/coolant to get to-OR-from the radiator is through the small tube attached to the side of the radiator cap....right?
The only way the radiator cap is pushed open from within the radiator is by an "overpressure"...right? Otherwise, its always closed by spring pressure.
So, if there is an overpressure and that valve opens up, nothing can go in against that pressure, only outward. Usually hard core blasts of steam trying to escape, or water/coolant boiling out. I don't see how water/coolant can be sucked in, there's never a suction situation happening. Even when the engine is cold, the 18psi spring keeps that valve shut, and any suction would just pull it shut harder, so......
Last edited by LS6427; Jan 10, 2009 at 08:14 PM.