lack of coolant?

thiscouldbeit · Post by **thiscouldbeit** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:30 pm

Hi,

Just filling up my windscreen washer and noticed that the coolant is low. I think its the coolant anyway, its directly behind the screen wash. What should I do? What do I fill it with? I've read a little about people talking about bleeding the system when you do stuff with coolant, but is that just for complicated stuff? I don't need to do anything like that just to fill it up do I? I'm supposed to be going away for the weekend tomorrow at 6AM and I've drunk too much wine to go anywhere to get stuff tonight!

Any advise, as always, would be greatly appreciated.

daveblueozzie · Post by **daveblueozzie** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:35 pm

expansion tank top right under bonnet with a radiator cap .
how low, can you still see coolant ,
why is it low, not checked regularly, leaky hose ?
top up with the same type of coolant.
get yourself a haydn's coolant alarm as soon as you can ,it will save you a lot of expense in the long run.
please put your location in your profile ,then maybe some one near to you may help

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:36 pm

Personally I'd just top up with neat full strength (not the ready to use stuff) coolant, that way you don't have to worry about weakening what ever is in there any more.

Try and get the same colour as is already in there - either blue or the pinky/orangey stuff.

If you use just water (I wouldn't) don't use plain tap water if you are in a hard water area.

thiscouldbeit · Post by **thiscouldbeit** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:04 pm

Thanks guy's, looks like its going to be an earlier start than before!

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:57 am

Hi, i can't help but read your posts using Chris griffin's waily voice

Generally speaking, topping up should be straight forward if you can still see the coolant near the bottom of the header tank... If it appears completely empty, then a bleed may be required

I'd go along with using some neat coolant of the same colour, if you have a slight leak, the previous owner may have topped it up using just plain water god knows how many times...effectively weakening the coolant mixture....

susan · Post by **susan** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:47 pm

Oh pray help,just read the last post and all ive done is added water

and i know my little tank is clear,but its very hard to see what colour it may of been,as the tank is very creamey looking and you cant see throu it.Can anyone tell me what i should do apart from

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:01 pm

susan wrote:Oh pray help,just read the last post and all ive done is added water and i know my little tank is clear,but its very hard to see what colour it may of been,as the tank is very creamey looking and you cant see throu it.Can anyone tell me what i should do apart from

It's unlikely to be a problem if you didn't have to add much, but it might be worth checking why you had to top it up in the first place - they shouldn't lose water normally. Also, make sure you don't use tap water if you live in a hard water area.

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:11 pm

francophile1947 wrote:
susan wrote:Oh pray help,just read the last post and all ive done is added water and i know my little tank is clear,but its very hard to see what colour it may of been,as the tank is very creamey looking and you cant see throu it.Can anyone tell me what i should do apart from
It's unlikely to be a problem if you didn't have to add much, but it might be worth checking why you had to top it up in the first place - they shouldn't lose water normally. Also, make sure you don't use tap water if you live in a hard water area.

Get a garage or perhaps even somewhere like Halfords to test the strength of the antifreeze/inhibitor in the system. if it is weak draw some off with a turkey baster or similar and top right up with neat antifreeze/inhibitor - you need one that is suitable for alloy engines.

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:11 pm

With any loss of coolant it is sensible to check that the head is clear of air.

susan · Post by **susan** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:20 pm

Many thanks for replys will get ono it now

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:06 pm

Too much antifreeze is better than too little.

A mechanic i used to use tested the strength of coolant by dipping his finger in the tank,then tasting how sweet the mix was...

(i think he's dead now

)

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:11 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:Too much antifreeze is better than too little.

A mechanic i used to use tested the strength of coolant by dipping his finger in the tank,then tasting how sweet the mix was... (i think he's dead now )

But Rigor Mortis still hasn't set in.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 1:21 am

I think the chaps at the cryogenics lab are having a spot of trouble too...

lack of coolant?

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