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Having the right level of
coolant in your car engine is a lot more important than you
might think. Coolant stops your car from getting too hot and
overheating. That's why it's really important to make sure
that your coolant levels are correct at regular intervals –
make it part of your weekly vehicle checks and you can’t go
far wrong. |
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What do I Need to do? |
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High pressure
and high temperatures can make it extremely dangerous to
open the radiator when the engine is hot. With this in mind,
always make sure that the car has been standing for around
half an hour so that the temperature can cool down before
you even think about checking your radiator and adding
coolant. |
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Having opened
up the bonnet and secured it, take a minute out to have a
good look at your radiator. Check it over and make sure that
there is no dust or debris covering the radiator top or
sides and restricting the flow of air - this is one of the
most common reasons that engines overheat! If there is any
dust or debris, clean it off and make sure that the air flow
is clear. |
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What you should be looking for? |
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Look at the coolant hoses and radiator and make
sure that there are no tears, damage or leaks.
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Looking into the coolant reservoir, you should
see a see-through container through which you
can see the fluid inside. There will usually be
some kind of indicator on the cap that this is
part of the cooling system.
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Have a look at the coolant level in the
reservoir. You should be able to clearly
distinguish to the two levels marked 'low' and
'full'. Check that the coolant level is
somewhere between the two, not too far in either
direction.
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If the coolant comes below the low mark, you
will need to add more fluid.
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Simply pour the coolant into the top of the
reservoir. If there is no coolant in the
reservoir you may have to pour some directly
into the radiator. Your owner's manual will give
you more guidance in this area in regards to the
type of coolant to use and at what concentration
– there are many different types so make sure
you are using the right one for your vehicle.
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If the level falls below the 'low' end after
you've added fluid, it seems likely that you
have a leak somewhere and you should get a
professional mechanic to check it out as soon as
you can.
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If there is
enough coolant in the reservoir, have a look at the colour.
They tend to be brightly coloured fluids; green, red,
yellow, blue - and usually thin and transparent. The coolant
should be clean and free of debris. If you see something
else in the coolant reservoir, such as oil, then you may
have an engine defect somewhere that will need checking out
by a professional. If it appears to be brown or a
reddish-brown rusty colour, your vehicle may need a radiator
flush. You can do this yourself but you should only attempt
this if you are confident enough to do so as it is quite a
complicated procedure. To drain the system, follow these
steps: |
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Open the radiator drain valve and drain out the
used coolant into a container or bucket that's
big enough to hold it all. Once it's empty, shut
the valve again.
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Dispose of the coolant legally. It's a hazardous
material so make sure you follow the laws for
your area and don't just go pouring it into your
nearest drain.
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You should then flush out the radiator to clean
the engine out. Use a cooling system flush
(available from places like Halfords) to make
sure that the inside of the system is clean and
grease free before you refill with the new
coolant. Fill the system up with clean water,
replace the cap and run the engine for as long
as the flush product suggests. Turn the car off
and let the engine cool down. Follow step 1 to
drain the system again, close the valve and fill
up with clean water. Run the engine again, this
time for around 15 minutes. Let it cool down and
re-drain the engine for a final time. Remember
to dispose of the liquid the same way as the
original coolant.
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Check your owner's manual and add the coolant as
required. Usually water and coolant should be a
50/50 combination.
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Once the coolant has been added, start the
engine and allow the system to run with the
heater on high. If the temperature light comes
on or there is no warm air from the heater, you
should call in a professional as something may
have gone wrong.
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Check the coolant level about a week after you
filled it to make sure that the coolant and the
water are mixing well. If it has dropped top it
up again to 50%. check again a few days later
and if the levels are low again, seek
professional advice.
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