Coolant overflow bottle

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Mar 25, 2007 | 03:30 AM
  #1  
I topped off the coolant about 3 weeks ago to the max line and now it's gone down a good amount, maybe 4 inches below the max line. The car is not leaking coolant... any ideas where it's going?
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Mar 25, 2007 | 10:34 AM
  #2  
Well, obviously it's leaking somewhere - I suppose you just aren't actually seeing a drip anywhere.

You're best case is that the radiator cap is not holding pressure. Check that first.

Next, you can have a shop perform a classic pressure test to see if the overall cooling system holds pressure. If it doesn't, then the detective work begins: ck hoses, clamps, gaskets. Worst case is an engine block leak, and I think there are ways to check your oil for coolant contamination.
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Mar 25, 2007 | 12:34 PM
  #3  
A little can burn over time but not that much over such a short time.
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Mar 25, 2007 | 01:49 PM
  #4  
Well the car is under warranty so I will be taking it to the dealer soon.
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Mar 25, 2007 | 02:36 PM
  #5  
i had that problem too. Don't worry it's not leaking. At any given point there will be a differernt amount of fluid actually in the radiator depending when you turned off your car.
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Mar 25, 2007 | 07:08 PM
  #6  
Quote: i had that problem too. Don't worry it's not leaking. At any given point there will be a differernt amount of fluid actually in the radiator depending when you turned off your car.
+1... check it each time after car cools down completely.
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Mar 25, 2007 | 09:19 PM
  #7  
I checked it today after driving it for a bit and it's back to the max line? Is it just thermal expansion?
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Mar 25, 2007 | 09:58 PM
  #8  
You may have topped it off when it was hot and checked it the first time after it had cooled.
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Mar 25, 2007 | 10:42 PM
  #9  
Are you supposed to add coolant through the overflow bottle or through the radiator cap?
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Mar 25, 2007 | 10:52 PM
  #10  
Quote: Are you supposed to add coolant through the overflow bottle or through the radiator cap?
If you are just topping it off add in the reservoir… as long as the reservoir was not bone dry… if it is/was you have lost too much coolant.
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Mar 26, 2007 | 12:43 AM
  #11  
Quote: You may have topped it off when it was hot and checked it the first time after it had cooled.
No I topped it off when the engine was cold.
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