Coolant usage?
 

What is a typical coolant usage? Have you added any? If so, how many miles on your car?

Thanks.

NONE! almost 21,000 miles. Driven in temparature as hot as 105 degrees last summer and this summer!

7k so far, and none also.

yeah, none, ever

If you're adding coolant there is a problem. The cooling system is closed loop i.e. no loss of coolant should occur unless there is a leak. Take it to your dealer/stealer and have them perform a coolant system pressure test.

I've noticed that my coolant reservoir has been basically empty since I got the car, when I brought the car in a few times for minor services they leave it how it is of check if off as being fine.

This can't be right, right?

So I kinda have the same question as you regarding the usage of the coolant (if any) especially since the dealership ignores it at every service.

The reservoir tank shouldn't be empty. Check it when its cold. The coolant level should be somewhere between the Min and Max marks. If its lower than Min, add coolant. Warm up the engine and drive it for a while till you get it to operating temp. Turn off engine and let it cool down. If you find that after a few drives, the level in the reservoir tank goes back to below Min, you have a leak. You will have to take it in for a pressure test to confirm the leak.

Level should be between the MIN and MAX marks on the reservoir bottle. If not, get it checked out before you overheat the engine.

Theoretically, you should never have to add coolant. If you have to add more than about a half-pint per year, you may have a problem.

Mine is like that too... Very little in the bottom of the reservoir, but if you look at the back, that's the max fill for mine...

Yeah, I forgot the good old disclaimer "have it checked before you overheat the engine". I've a hunch that his coolant tank is not completely empty but maybe more like a low level because he mentioned it was low since brand new. If he had a leak, it would have overheated by now.

Here's a funny story. In some cars, the MIN and MAX marks cannot be seen easily. I remember when I was a boy and my dad had really bad cataracts, he would always tell me that his coolant tank was empty. He would fill it right up to the lid and by the time he came home, it would have fallen to the MAX mark because of the overflow tube. Of course he couldn't see the MAX mark so he thought it was empty again.

Wow you guys still awake? What time is it over there? 2am?

Coolant usage and cataracts
 

I had a problem with my new Zee. When I first checked my coolant level at night under the carport light, the plastic tank was obviously empty. I wigged out. Only had it a bit more than a week! The next day, in bright sunlight, I can see the coolant and it was fine. I think part of the problem is an unrepaired cataract in one eye and the other eye had cataract repair by insertion of a "blue blocker" lens. Don't have a problem seeing the orange or green coolant in my other vehicles in dim light.

Wild. I'm color blind when it comes to blue's and green's

:excited::iagree: the coolant system is a sealed system. If it gets low, you're either leaking or burning it.

What about coolant being released from the overflow tank? At what coolant temperature does the coolant overflow?

Your just retarted.:bowrofl:

You should have coolant coming coming out of the reservoir only when you have grossly overheated the engine. Shouldn't happen unless you boil the coolant. The temperature where coolant boils depends on type, concentration, and system pressure. IIRC, it's somewhere around 230F for classic cars, but may be higher in modern vehicles.

It also overflows if you have grossly overfilled the tank way past the MAX mark like what my dad did in his car.

Congradulations on having a empty coolant tank. Your prize will soon be a rusted out radiator core. You need to get it topped off at the stealership a.s.a.p.

i check coolant level on my Z on a regular basis, and it's been 3yrs+ no need to add.

the coolant in the Z is some special formula they started using that is suppose to last like 7yrs or something without needing drain/fill.

According to Service Manual MA-8 and MA-9, note (4), the coolant filled at the factory is good for the first 60,000 miles or 48 months. Thereafter, replace every 30,000 miles or 24 months.

huh, that's odd. 4yrs is what my G has with the green fluid. and the drain/fill cycle you posted is what ive been doing on my G. (my G's 8yrs old).


my z came with blue coolant. specially formulated for longer duration so i thought i read. :confused: next time i see my Z i shall check the manual again.

Is this extended life coolant code named "FL22"? On my Rx8, the manual does say something about a factory-filled long life coolant that Mazda calls "FL22". The manual says you don't have to change your coolant for the first 48 months too. Thereafter, its once every 2 years. There are FL22 stickers on the radiator cap or on the reservoir tank to tell you its long-life coolant. Just a fancy code I guess... In reality, I think its just a 50-50 pre-mix.

anyway, mr.jar (member here) confirmed wat i read in the owner's manual. 7yrs or 105k miles for the first change. i forgot to look in the manual when i turned the tires a few weeks back. my car's in hibernation with cover on so kind of a hassle to pull out just the owner's manual from inside.