I have a 1999 Honda Civic EX with 215K miles. I am reasonably good at checking and changing fluids periodically, and the car has lasted this long without any major repairs.
However, no matter whether the car is hot or cold, the coolant resevoir has always been empty. And the radiator has always been full (coolant to the very top when I remove the cap). I thought the resevoir should fill up (slightly) when the engine has been running, because the coolant has expanded... but it never seems to.
Should I be concerned? Thanks for any input.
2007-07-30 04:55:35 · 10 answers · asked by danger4242 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You are losing coolant somewhere, so yes you should be concerned where it is going. You are either leaking it out on the ground, or you are burning it through the engine.
Have a pressure check on the coolant system and find the leak. You may have the engine overheat at some point, and tuin the engine.
2007-07-30 05:01:34 · answer #1 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is completely empty then I am not sure. If it has just a little bit left in it, then my guess is the plastic overflow has a crack in it part way up, but the lower portion is still working well enough so the fluid expansion still works between the radiator and the reservoir.
2007-07-30 12:05:22 · answer #2 · answered by william 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the reservoir is empty when the engine is hot you may have a circulation problem. When the engine is hot, feel the radiator hose, if it is cold then this is the case. Have the thermostat or the water pump checked out.
2007-07-30 16:04:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are getting a plume of white smoke when the car first starts then you have coolant leaking past the head gasket.
2007-07-30 12:02:44 · answer #4 · answered by John F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would check the reservoir for leaks. If none are found, then have a cooling system pressure test done to reveal any leaks there might be in the system.
2007-07-30 12:00:30 · answer #5 · answered by Ron B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you have to START with some water in the coolent jar.
If you do and it empties out, then your car is losing more water then it should. (or you simply have a leak in your coolant jar.. check that)
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2007-07-30 12:01:33 · answer #6 · answered by ca_surveyor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You always want to have a little back up just incase the radiator runs out. Wouldnt hurt to put a little in.
2007-07-30 12:01:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the mixture could be off but i don't think you have anything to worry about cause the reservoir is to catch the coolant when your vehicle over heats or it could be a head gasket
2007-07-30 12:29:09 · answer #8 · answered by sddp05 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the coolant must be going somewhere.If there are no leaks perhaps it is a head gasket.
2007-07-30 12:00:01 · answer #9 · answered by hotdogseeksbun 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh don't worry just keep driving and whistling Dixie if it gets loud just turn up the music
2007-07-30 12:11:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋