Coolant Disappearing? 3 Hidden Causes You Can't Ignore!, by FixPro Garage on YouTube. 4 min 5 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 5 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground and let the engine cool completely, ideally overnight. Never open a radiator or reservoir cap while the engine is still warm.
Check the coolant level in the reservoir against the cold minimum and maximum marks. Top up with the correct coolant if it sits below the low line.
Shine a light around hoses, hose clamps, the radiator and the water pump. Look for dried white or coloured crust, damp patches and coolant trails.
Check the water pump weep hole, the thermostat housing and the heater hoses for slow seepage that burns off before it drips.
Inspect the radiator cap and reservoir cap. Look for a flattened, cracked or swollen rubber seal and a spring that no longer holds pressure.
Watch the exhaust and the coolant itself. White smoke, a sweet smell, bubbles in the reservoir or oily sludge point to an internal leak.
Check the oil and the temperature gauge. Milky oil or a gauge that climbs fast can mean a head gasket or cylinder head problem.
If the level keeps dropping, get a cooling system pressure test. It pressurises the system and shows where hidden coolant escapes.
Fix the cause before long drives. Topping up is only a short-term fix and a small leak gets bigger over time.
Tips and common mistakes
Replace a weak radiator cap before chasing bigger faults, since a cap that will not hold pressure lets coolant boil away.
Use the coolant type and colour listed in your owner's manual and never mix different types.
Stop and switch off the engine if the temperature gauge climbs into the red, then let it cool before touching anything.
Check the level at the same cold temperature each time so you can judge how fast you are losing coolant.
Questions
Why is my coolant going down with no puddle?
Coolant can escape as vapour through a bad cap, seep slowly onto hot parts and burn off, or leak inside the engine and leave through the exhaust.
How do I know if it is a head gasket?
Look for white smoke from the exhaust, a sweet smell, bubbles in the reservoir, milky oil or a gauge that rises quickly.
Can I just keep topping up the coolant?
Only for a short time. The leak keeps growing and a low level can overheat the engine and cause costly damage.
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.
