hey guys! its been awhile...but no, I didnt buy a mercedes....

I just wanna ask if it is quite normal for the engine coolant to go down below the MIN level after almost a year. I just checked my coolant level tonight and it is about half an inch below the MIN level, and I had 60K-mile maintenance done on my max 10 months ago where I thought they filled it up. any thoughts?

 

Maybe they didn't fill it....

J/K, they should've done that. Maybe a leak, a hose?

 

IMO...high speeds/frequent spirited driving=eating some?

 

thansk for the information!!

 

Thanks for what information? How threads ha ve you answered that way?

 

A bad motor mount may cause the engine to move a lot and put stress on a few hoses. You can replace the cheap hose claps with stainless steel clamps. Keep the tank full and find the leak. Let the coolant get too low and the upper portion of the engine will begin to overhead -> cracked heads.

 

Curious just for my information. What percentage of our coolant is in the overflow tank and if you still have some there(only low) how will that cause the car to overheat?

 

My 96 had a barely full radiator when I got it and it never overheated. Even in our rediculously hot summers it would get slight above middle on the gauge. As for the over flow if its low I just fill it with water. It never gets cold enough to freeze here and its normal for the rad to suck a little back in. I try not to let it get empty since a nasty sludge can build up. The 07 was low when I got it too. The friggin monkeys at the service place had the dang car for 5 hours after I bought it and they didn't top it off?? I bet all they did was change the oil and go to lunch, lmao. I know they didn't change the CVT fluid.

 

19 posts today to be able to sell something.

 

Fill it up and keep an eye on the level, the engine temps, and under the car for puddles when you park. Also big difference in the level when you check the car cold or hot.

 

just curious...what difference does it make if you measured it COLD or HOT?

 

Because if hot thats were excess overflow goes and it will be higher. When cold its a more accurate.

 

I never looked at our overflow but usally they have 2 min/max, one that measurement that sais hot another that sais cold. and yeah as redls1 said.

 

No, if the tank is empty the engine will not overheat. The engine holds almost 8 quarts of coolant. The tank 3/4 quarts. Its a reserve. You can't see the level inside the radiator. If the tank is empty, how much is missing in the rad? one quart or 4 quarts?

Cold water hold less volume than hot water. Check when cold. If the tank is empty when hot, the rad will suck in air as the engine cools. Not good, its a water cooled engine. Fix the leak, otherwise, you will forget to top off or go a long trip where much water will leak, and cause serious damage. Or get some Bar's Leaks.

 

Yeah I kinda knew that but didnt want to come off wrong pointing it out.

 

He has quite a few...man, that's annoying