How to add coolant to my car?

So I does me weekly Sunday check of the vehicles.

The Mazda 2 is out of coolant. Usually the plastic reservoir is up to the fill line with clear green fluid.

None in it today, and can't see any in the radiator. Usually it's full to the top.


https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/.../IKC06bc-1.jpg

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/.../OiYZI7E-1.jpg


Bought 3 bottles for the price of 2 of this stuff at a Shell station.

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/.../wbs3h06-1.jpg

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/.../NKig3qT-1.jpg

Will refrain from drinking it.


Now, the internetty says about 3,000 conflicting methods that you must follow.

So:

Do I need to dillute it first?

50/50 with distilled water?

Or just chuck it in as it is.

The bottles don't say anything about it?


And...

Do I pour it into the radiator, or into the reservoir?

Or into both?

Will pouring it into one fill up the other?

Cheers.

My mechanical experience is inflating the windscreen to 32psi when the wipers need new blades.

Put undiluted into the reservoir.

Chuck in, as is. I usually put it stroaght into radiator.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PAG

Put undiluted into the reservoir.

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Cheers PAG. (edit: and KW)


Is that it?


Just chuck the bottles into the reservoir, and it will fill up the radiator?


The top of the radiator is well above the top of the reservoir.

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oh.... to slow. What they said^

^^ Yup, that's it.

If it overfills it just goes into the resevior

Clearly an issue if the original fluid is missing.

Check the oil - is it the normal black colour, or milky?

Inspect all hoses, fittings and clamps, bottom of radiator etc for signs of leak. Maybe a green or whitish discolouration.

Suggest that you fill it up with plain water first, run the engine up to operating temperature, check for obvious leaks around the pipework while it is running, then turn it off and keep checking.

Let it reach operating temperature while you enjoy 2-3 beers.

Taking it for a short drive with plain water will not do any harm, just ensure that it is topped off.

When you have identified and fixed the source of the leak time to replace the coolant.

Under no circumstance mix different brands of coolant. You can easily get an acidic reaction which will eat out an aluminium radiator, or other al internals within 1-2 weeks.

Best to stick a hose in the radiator top while the engine in idling in your driveway to completely flush the cooling system.

Do this while you enjoy 2-3 beers.

Drain the cooling system by finding a tap on the bottom of the radiator or removing the bottom hose.

Let it drain for another 2-3 beers.

You are ready to replace the coolant now that the old coolant has been has been flushed from the system.

Do not put beer in with the coolant.

The factory Mazda coolant is probably the best on the market, and normally comes in concentrated form. You would ideally add de-ionised water from the supermarket to the instructions on the label.

If there are no instructions on the label it is probably already diluted and crap.

All good advice above but ...

Now you have why/where the coolant leaked.

Modern engines usually don't leak radiator fluid.

---

Could be a pinhole on the expansion tank ... the white plastic thing where you usually put the water into, a radiator hose, a heater hose (if it has one ... tis Thailand after all), maybe replace the radiator cap and, in the worst case, a blown head gasket.

To check for a 'a blown head gasket' pull out the oil dipstick.

It should have a clear oil or slightly dark colour.

If it's got bubbles or looks like a 'milkshake' ... you're fucked.

But the 'a blown head gasket' is unlikely.

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If you ever put water into the coolant system, spend a penny and use 'distilled water'.

Or distilled whisky ... what ever is cheaper ... but avoid using the MontClair :)



EDIT ... MAF and I were posting at the same time.
Sage advice there also.

^
what david said.

whats the point of refilling it if it is just going to drain out again.

you need to establish why your radiator and header tank was empty in the first place.

^^ I like the idea of 2-3 beers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MAF

Under no circumstance mix different brands of coolant. You can easily get an acidic reaction which will eat out an aluminium radiator, or other al internals within 1-2 weeks.

---

Bugger.

Have no idea what coolant is in there at the moment, other than it was clear green.


If there's any in there.


Bladdy pain in the arse not knowing yer elbows from yer nuts. :)

I'd say as that coolant hasn't got 50/50 written on it that it needs diluting. Although I can't be arsed translating the Thai

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Luigi

Just chuck the bottles into the reservoir, and it will fill up the radiator?

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There should be min and max markers on the reservoir

Quote:

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Originally Posted by taxexile

whats the point of refilling it if it is just going to drain out again.

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Because that's the limit of my capabilities. :)

Lulu run it idling and check for leaks - as MAF and Dave said - you need to worry about why it drained

You don't need to worry about why it's drained yet. Fill the fucker up and keep an eye on it

Many cars in Thailand use straight water in their radiators, as it never freezes here. Look for a drain plug or cock on the bottom of the radiator, if the fluid that comes out is clear/rusty looking, then you may just have water in there, not coolant.

I would drain it all out anyways, because it's something that you should do periodically.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dillinger

I'd say as that coolant hasn't got 50/50 written on it that it needs diluting.

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Oh great.

Here we go.

Back to not even knowing if the bladdy thing needs 50/50 diluting or not. :sad:


Right.

Mazda 2.
Price: Free
You collect.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dillinger

You don't need to worry about why it's drained yet. Fill the fucker up and keep an eye on it

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Its not in a bar

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MAF

Do this while you enjoy 2-3 beers.

---

MAF, my local had Steinlagers on special ... are they recommended?

There is a reason it is now at a low level.

Cars need coolant because it is not just anti-freeze, it is anti corrosion, and anti-electrolysis.

What MAF said is the go.

Look for leaks on the ground when you get the engine to operating temperature and the cooling system is pressurized. If no leaks found, the most likely cause is the radiator cap, which allows coolant to escape and go into the overflow bottle, then allows coolant to get sucked back into the radiator when everything cools down. The particular seal in the cap which allows it to do this will no longer be sealing.....so coolant is exiting and not getting sucked back.

But really....it's best to get people who know about cars to do these things. They test for leaks by screwing on a special radiator cap which has a small plunger on it and they pressurize the system by hand, then look for leaks.....all with the engine relatively cool.

How does filling it up with water and driving it to the shell station where they can drain it and put the bladdy coolant in, sound?

Hell yeah, Steiney's are most acceptable. My personal favourite is Coopers Sparking Ale, hard to find in the Kingdom

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dillinger

You don't need to worry about why it's drained yet. Fill the fucker up and keep an eye on it

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Diluted or not?

Personally I'd be getting the bloke who does your regular services to come and look at it for a serious diagnosis and then take it away and get it fixed properly.

Not that many years ago I had a similar experience with 1 year old Pajerro. Morning check before a long drive back to Darwin. No coolant at all, it appeared to have just disappeared. The hazard lights said nothing so I filled it up with water and a liter of coolant I carried as spare. I guess I was about 2 hours out of Yarralin when the whole thing seized, dead, indeed the stench of mechanical death was only too clear.

Now, There's not a lot of traffic on that track, no sat phone, no mobile coverage so it was a matter of waiting.

About 4 hours later some blokes pulled up and sussed it in minutes a split pipe which managed to eject, dispel or ejaculate the fucking lot.

We locked it up, drove back to the community and called it in. The next day they picked up and took it to Darwin with a view to repair.

Repair? A new engine.

Thank fuck it was a Government truck.