XC92
Proven Member
- 1,561
- 356
- Jul 22, 2020
-
Queens,
New_York
Car's running more or less fine, somewhat rough idle but I don't think it's coolant related. But, as part of my annual fall checkup to prepare for winter driving, I checked the coolant level to both make sure that there was enough coolant and that the ratio was sufficient to protect against the low temps we get around here (I mix concentrated coolant with distilled water to save money and fine-tune the ratio).
Turned out that the coolant was a bit low and the ratio too thin. So I drained some coolant and then topped off with concentrate after removing the coolant cap just above the thermostat. Drove it around till it reached operating temp, let it cool a bit, then checked the level and ratio. Still too low on both.
So I repeated this until the ratio was just right. But every time I remove the cap, the coolant is well below the cap opening and there's just barely enough to fill the coolant ratio tester (I used the kind with a rubber bulb like a turkey baster and a clock-like gauge).
Is this normal, for the coolant level to be this low, and for the ratio to have been this low as well, or is it indicative of a slow leak and perhaps something else? There's no sign of oil leaking into the coolant or vice-versa, so I don't think there's a head gasket leak.
Nor do I see any obvious signs of leaks anywhere (although I haven't done an exhaustive inspection yet), so if there is a leak then it's very slight and only when driving the car and evaporates before it leaves an obvious mark anywhere.
When I flushed out the coolant last spring I'm pretty sure I had the right ratio. And the reservoir is at the right level and doesn't appear to be going up or down. My recollection is that in the past when I've filled the coolant up to the cap level, it stays there and doesn't go down much.
Oh, last thing. I replaced the original cap with an aftermarket one, the kind that has a release valve. Could that be where coolant is leaking, as steam, and would it leave a telltale stain on the inside of the hood?
Turned out that the coolant was a bit low and the ratio too thin. So I drained some coolant and then topped off with concentrate after removing the coolant cap just above the thermostat. Drove it around till it reached operating temp, let it cool a bit, then checked the level and ratio. Still too low on both.
So I repeated this until the ratio was just right. But every time I remove the cap, the coolant is well below the cap opening and there's just barely enough to fill the coolant ratio tester (I used the kind with a rubber bulb like a turkey baster and a clock-like gauge).
Is this normal, for the coolant level to be this low, and for the ratio to have been this low as well, or is it indicative of a slow leak and perhaps something else? There's no sign of oil leaking into the coolant or vice-versa, so I don't think there's a head gasket leak.
Nor do I see any obvious signs of leaks anywhere (although I haven't done an exhaustive inspection yet), so if there is a leak then it's very slight and only when driving the car and evaporates before it leaves an obvious mark anywhere.
When I flushed out the coolant last spring I'm pretty sure I had the right ratio. And the reservoir is at the right level and doesn't appear to be going up or down. My recollection is that in the past when I've filled the coolant up to the cap level, it stays there and doesn't go down much.
Oh, last thing. I replaced the original cap with an aftermarket one, the kind that has a release valve. Could that be where coolant is leaking, as steam, and would it leave a telltale stain on the inside of the hood?
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