What is wrong with my coolant tank??? Please help?

Question

I have a 95 Toyota Camry V4. The other day my car overheated. There was smoke coming from below the hood and the temp gage was at the H level. When I looked at the coolant tank it was empty. So I filled water and coolant in the radiator. About 6 days later I checked the tank again it was empty. So I filled the tank part with coolant about 3 hours later and a 15 min drive later (to some stores) I looked at the tank and it was halfway gone (i filled it to the line). I find it strange that it took 6 days to empty completely but not even 2-3 hours for it to go half way full. So I am wondering if the car is getting worse. I havent had another overheating and the temp gage has been at the middle level. I am wondering what the problem is and what you think the repairs might cost. I am a woman and I have always had a hard time with auto shops because they always seem to take advantage, and tell me that there is so many things wrong with the car. I just want to go in prepared. Thanks

BTW how safe is it to drive like this? I mean as long as I check the coolant tank. I cant afford repairs this minute. And should I fill that tank with coolant or water. Thanks

Oh yeah on July 10th I went to sears and purchased a package deal that inlcuded a coolant exhange, fuel system cleaning and oil change. If there was a crack, leak etc... would they have seen/determined this when they did the coolant exchange??? On my invoice it is says belts, leakage, pressure cap, hoses other all are check off and no recommedation are suggested, and that was done on July 10th is it possible for whatever to go wrong so soon after that. Again I never had a problem with overheating before

Answer 1

I would take it to a dealership. If the car keeps overheating your engine will be destroyed.

Answer 2

When your vehicle overheated alot of that water was vaporized..and that mixture that is needed was gone. So when you filled up you were only filling up probably half way..its like water on the stove boiling..when it gets to that point of (hot) **You had said now it has NOT overheated and the temp Gage is reading in the middle*** This could be as simple as it just overheated and when you were filling up the tank you didn't get it to the fill point. Cars overheat for many different of reasons..and this could be as easy as just going and getting a coolant flush and re-fill done. After a period of time the coolant chemicals in there breakdown and then causes the car to overheat. I would suggest at least to start there and just see how everything goes. Then at that point when they are performing the flush and re-fill for your coolant if there is a leak or something else wrong they will notice at that point.

Answer 3

You should probably get the problem checked as soon as possible at your local Toyota dealer if I were you. It however is okay if your keeping a close eye on the coolant level but make sure that in ways of parking over night that your not leaking any on the ground. If you're finding that you are you have a definite external system leak and its not gonna get any better except by fixing it, so you'd want to get it to the shop so they can pressurize the system and find the point its leaking to make the repair needed.As far as what to add you should add a 50/50 mix of coolant and water. You can find already premixed at your local parts store.

Answer 4

There is a leak somewhere in the system.
You may not even see it when the car is cold.
When you run the engine it heats the water and the system is under pressure.
Thus the coolant leaks out faster when you run it.
Try letting it idle till it heats up while you look for the leak.
Even if you don't see it, it's there, otherwise you wouldn't be losing coolant.
It might be an easy fix like a loose clamp or a damaged hose.
If you can't fix it, hold on to your wallet, its shop time.