Coolant reservoir. When should it read MIN and when should it read MAX?

Question

Hello,

The engine was cold on my mom's 2000 Nissan Maxima. I went to drain the radiator and then add new coolant. All was fine. There was no coolant in the reservoir. I added the new coolant, ran the engine to get any air bubbles out, and then put on the cap.

Now Nissan says in the owners manual that if there is no coolant in the reservoir when the engine is cold, add to the MAX level. However, shouldn't the reservoir be at MAX when the engine is hot after coolant has spilled over from the radiator cap to the reservoir?

Why would Nissan have me add to the MAX when even more coolant could be added to the reservoir after the engine heats up again?

I added coolant with the radiator cap off, of course, then I ran the engine with the cap off to keep any air bubbles out. I did not add throttle or let it get so hot that it was leaking out the top.

I just don't understand why Nissan would say add to "MAX" when the car is cold.

Answer 1

you never want to run your car with the cap off and you never want to take the cap off when the engine is still hot. and make sure you didnt put all coolant when you changed it. it should be 50% coolant and 50% water., half and half. there shoould be some coolant in the resivoir when the engine is cold, not much, but some.

Answer 2

I worked for GM, and as far as things went, there where 2 lines a min. line and a max line on over flow tank. When checking engine cold, the coolant would be at min. line and after engine ran and hot the line would be some where around max, since coolant expands when hot. There should be some lines to my thinking, but that is with the GM line.

Answer 3

I normaly leave my coolant between max and min, for expansion and contraction of the liquid during hot an cold

Answer 4

when you drain the system of coolant, you usually need to add to the reservoir because things like the heater core need to get the coolant running through it, not just the radiator?

Answer 5

MIN- fully cold

Max - operating temperature

Answer 6

MIN WHEN COOL..............

MAX WHEN HOT...............


BEST TO LEAVE AT MIDDLE OF MIN AND MAX.