OK i did try a search on this but didnt find anything...

couple days ago i put new engine coolant in because i was at or below minimum on the resevoir i put in enough to take it to max. today i opened up the hood just for kicks and the coolant had gone down a lot - not too minimum, not even halfway, but like a third. is this normal? thanks for the help.

 

You have to run the engine to circulate the coolant you just added, then shut it off and add some more, if needed, until you have the desired amount.

 

Yes that could very well happen. If you checked your coolant level while you engine was hot and found it to be at or below the minimun level, added coolant to bring it up to the max, all while your motor was hot. Then the next day checked it while your engine was cold, it will have dropped. Hot coolant expands which is why we have a tank to catch it in. Then when the motor cools down, the radiator sucks it back in. So if you were at max while the motor was hot, chances are you will be at min when the motor is cold.

 

As a side note, I believe those Min and Max levels should only be used when the engine is cold. Fill to Max when the engine is cold and you should be okay. If you do that and check it cold the next day and it is down, then you know you have a problem.