![]() ![]() Then locate your coolant reservoir, and make sure that the water level is between the minimum and maximum levels. To check the levels, lift your car’s bonnet, and be sure that it’s secured. The overflow bottle usually has a brightly coloured cap and is connected to the radiator at the front of the car. The coolant level should be between the two marks. Generally, low and high markings on the side of the plastic overflow bottle connected to the cooling system tell you if there is enough coolant in the engine. ![]() ![]() It's also a good idea to consult your owner's manual at this point as it can guide you through the specifics of your vehicle. Let it sit for a few hours after driving before you remove the radiator cap, otherwise hot coolant can spray out, causing burns. Thankfully, checking the level is an easy job to do.įirst and foremost, before you inspect your car’s cooling system you must ensure the engine is cool. Coolant, which is often green or red, contains chemicals that stop the liquid from freezing in sub-zero climates and prevents corrosion damage inside the engine.Ĭhecking the level is important as it can prevent problems such as your engine overheating and your vehicle breaking down. It’s not actually water in your engine, but coolant. Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot.Check your coolant level every time you refuel.Prevent costly damage by checking your car’s coolant levels.Propylene glycol is sold under the brand names Sierra, Prestone Low Tox and Texaco PG. There's no substance that you can add to antifreeze to make it less appealing to animals, but antifreeze made with propylene glycol instead of the usual ethylene glycol is about a third as toxic. As little as a half teaspoon of the stuff can kill an average-size cat, and eight ounces will do in a 75-pound dog. For the first 100,000 miles, it is necessary to check the coolant level simply to be sure you're not leaking or burning coolant.Ĭar Talk Tip: Antifreeze has a sweet aroma and taste, which pets find particularly appealing. Coolant that's diluted or weak can freeze when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.Ĭheck your owner's manual to see if your car uses "long-life" coolant. If you live where the temperature dips below freezing, we suggest that you ask your mechanic to check the concentration of the coolant. I've built a working nuclear reactor out of wood. I've fixed things on my car that involve removing more than five bolts. I've successfully hung pictures around the house. It depends on where you rank on the Car Talk do-it-yourself scale: Either one should be addressed quickly, since running low or out of coolant can lead to catastrophic engine failure and many boat payments to your mechanic. If you check your coolant level when the engine is hot, the coolant should be at or just below the "max" line.ĭisappearance of coolant could be caused by either an external or internal leak, the latter being more expensive. If you check your coolant level when the engine is cold, the coolant should be at or above the "minimum" or "fill" line on the transparent refill container. Your owner's manual will have a recommended interval in which to check the coolant level. Is there any maintenance required between intervals?Ĭheck your coolant level periodically. When an engine overheats, the result is a bonus yacht payment to your mechanic that someone else should be making. In time, these bits of rust will also clog the tiny passages within the radiator and heater, causing your engine to overheat. The biggest source of rust in a car's cooling system is the engine block. If the rust inhibitors stop working, the cooling system will rust from the inside out. Even with these rust inhibitors, some corrosion will inevitably take place, contaminating the coolant with debris. Most importantly, the coolant's rust inhibitors get used up, leaving the small cooling passages in your engine and radiator vulnerable to corrosion. Draining out the coolant and refilling the system removes dirt and rust particles that can clog up the cooling system and cause problems in winter and summer.īecause it is operating in a hot, hostile environment, coolant will break down over time. The coolant level should be at the tank's MAX or HOT line when the engine is hot, and lower when it's cold. Most cars have a plastic coolant recovery tank (top of photo) connected to the radiator by a hose, so there's no need to open the radiator cap itself (orange label at bottom). ![]()
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