Vauxhall Corsa D: How To Check Engine Coolant Level & Top Up (Check Antifreeze), by CarSpyTV on YouTube. 3 min 52 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 52 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Park on flat, level ground and leave the engine switched off until it is completely cold. Overnight or at least a few hours is safest, because hot coolant can spray out and burn you.
Pull the bonnet release inside the car, open the bonnet and prop it up on its stay.
Find the coolant expansion tank. On a Corsa D it is the see-through plastic bottle in the engine bay with a cap marked with a coolant symbol.
Look at the side of the tank for the cold level marks, usually MIN and MAX or a set of arrows. The coolant should sit between them with the engine cold.
If the level is at or below the minimum mark, you need to top up. If it is already between the marks, refit the cap and you are done.
Unscrew the expansion tank cap slowly, with the engine cold, and let any pressure hiss away before lifting it off.
Check the coolant colour and type before you add anything. A Corsa D takes a long-life red or pink antifreeze, so do not mix in a different colour or type.
Pour pre-mixed coolant through a funnel in small amounts until the level reaches the maximum mark. Do not fill above it, as the coolant needs room to expand.
Refit the cap and tighten it fully. Start the engine, let it idle for a few minutes, then switch off and look under the car and around the tank for drips.
Recheck the level when the engine is cold again the next day. If it keeps dropping, have the system checked for a leak.
Tips and common mistakes
Never open the coolant cap on a warm engine, as pressurised hot coolant can spray out.
Use the correct spec long-life coolant rather than plain water, which lowers the antifreeze protection and can cause corrosion.
Do not overfill past the maximum mark, because coolant expands as it heats up and may overflow.
Check the level once a week or before a long drive, since a slow leak is easy to miss.
Questions
Which coolant should I use in a Vauxhall Corsa D?
Use a long-life red or pink OAT coolant that meets the Vauxhall spec for your engine. Check the handbook or the label on the coolant bottle before buying, and never mix two different types.
Can I just top up the coolant with water?
Only in an emergency, and use a small amount. Too much water dilutes the antifreeze, so it protects less against freezing and corrosion. Top up properly with mixed coolant as soon as you can.
Why does my coolant level keep dropping?
A small drop over months is normal. If you are topping up often, there is likely a leak from a hose, the radiator or the tank, so get the system pressure tested.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
