Quote:
Originally Posted by spearfish25
The coolant level you're reading is not the true coolant level in the system. You're looking at the overflow/surge tank. If coolant heats and expands, it overflows into that tank. Conversely, vacuum as the system cools can pull coolant back into the cooling system from the surge tank if the main system's levels drop.
What I do is this:
When the engine is COLD, open the radiator cap (push down and turn) and fill the coolant to the very brim. Replace the cap. Then top up the surge tank to MAX with fresh coolant. Run the engine for 5-10 minutes and then remove the radiator cap a second time (only if the engine is cool). Top up again as needed. Now your coolant system is full and you have plenty of coolant in the surge tank.
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So if that is the case, wouldn't you want to refill the overflow tank when the engine is hot then? It sounds like if you filled it to the top when the engine is cool, then it would overflow above max? I checked the actual radiator level, and it was just about at the top there, just the overflow tank is low.