Re: No Coolant
Well, "Just fill it up" isn't the way to handle this, nor should it be filled to begin with.
First, with the engine cold, open the radiator cap and see what the level in there is. If it is full, great. The reservoir tank should then be filled half way with a 50/50 mix of water and anti-freeze. Do not fill it all the way to the top, just half way. In a case like this, it is likely the tank itself had a slow leak or it just evaporated over a long long time. Or it was never filled to begin with. No big deal and nothing to worry about,
If the radiator level is low, then you should fill the radiator with the 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. With the cap still off, start the engine and let it warm up. Once the engine reaches operating temperature, the t-stat will open and coolant will begin circulating through the radiator. You'll probably see the level drop down again. Keep adding more as the level drops. Eventually the level will stabilize full. Be careful, that water is 190+ degrees. Put the cap back on. Fill the reserve tank 1/2 way up with the 50/50 mix. Done. The lack of coolant could be any number of issues. The most common is that it was never filled properly to begin with the last time it was flushed out. So don't get all worried until it happens again.
Last edited by FireRanger; 05-22-2011 at 09:02 AM.
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