#1 Mistake Filling Car Coolant Fluid!!
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- Опубликовано: 4 июн 2023
- Filling your car's coolant reservoir to the FULL line with fluid does not fill your radiator!
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Not all cars have radiator caps, checkout our full video for more information!! ruclips.net/video/_Wq__5jZ1gM/видео.html
Link doesn't work
Vw,s
My 04 Chevy Tahoe don't have a cap so wat should I do then
That's where I'm stuck right now, I was staring under my hood hoping to find the cap, but I had to put it in the reservoir. And it's not going through the hose.
@@sillyblondegirl35clogged line or heating core…this channel shouldn’t be used for mechanical reference
Some cars have completely sealed radiators..... so you have to fill it via the overflow tank.... sooooo
Just like my F250
Then it’s not an overflow tank
@@Jayyy-7 No; it's eliminating that overflow tank by making the highest point in the cooling system translucent plastic and pressurised;
having at least 2 hoses leading into it at the bottom of the container;
one from the top of the radiator and one from another point on the engine so the whole system "burps" itself of any air and you can see instantly how much coolant is in the whole system.....
and it is where you pour in any coolant.....
just leave engine work to move out air boobles deom engine and radiator so pour more if needed, overpouring is not good bcs of bigger pressure so for some years the cap will fly away or bottle will break
In that case it's not called a resivior it's called a surge tank and they are under pressure
Important to note over time it will pull coolant from the bottle into the radiator and back as the coolant expands and contracts.
Almost entirely acaccurate! But no worries dude doesn't understand what he's trying to explain either. It's not just an overflow reservoir anymore either friend and hasn't been since ...idk...the 60's maybe? Anyways it's now a pressurized coolant recovery tank and is absolutely the way to tell how much coolant is in your vehicle at a glance and for most situations will be accurate without any doubts. The hi and lo marks are more about the temperature of your engine ie has it been sitting? Cold ..Or running and warmed up with the AC going? Hot..
Hope more people see the truth
@@jackhacker76 Not all cars have a pressurized expansion tank, and this doenst have one. Neiter have many hondas. The ones that have a pressurized expansion tanks, uusually dont have a radiator cap.
I'm so glad you left this comment! Great to know!
Glad for the info, but please stress the safety of opening that cap under pressure more. Seriously guys do not do it. You’ll burn yourself with a geyser of boiling coolant all over you.
Yeah, and the cap, if its a metal one, can cut
True that had that happened thank God I ddnt go far nd it wasn't hot but does shoot out like a geyser
@@jayes460 if u gonna open the cap, at least let the car cool down 5 hours first..
@@midnightcruiser8885 hours? bru what typa blown head gasket leaky water pump bad thermostat bucket are you driving🤣🤣
@@bhopins after 1 - 3 hours the engine is still hot. So 5 hrs just to be on the safe side man.
You HAVE to make sure the engine is NOT HOT!!
Otherwise you will have 3rd degree BURNS!
Uhhh yeah he says that in the video...
@@drewdale76 I know but he does NOT EMPHASIZE IT ENOUGH!
@@greatnew_products7436 thank you I thought I was the only one to comment this.
Yeah he doesn’t emphasize it that strongly
Here's a much easier way just let natural selection run it's course if someone wants to open the cap when it's hot let em they will find out sooner or later.
Cold engine, remove cap, start engine, warmup with cap removed, wait for thermostat to open, run heater full force, then add fluid. Replace cap. This prevents air pockets from forming.
Interesting, thank you😊
risky
@@cautarepvp2079not really
@@cautarepvp2079not at all 😂😂😂😂
@@cautarepvp2079your probably scared of changing the oil hot so you wait a hour or two to pop that drain plug :/
In almost all modern cars, if the reservoir has at least minimum fluid in it, the radiator is full. There is no need to open the radiator cap. Adding to the reservoir directly is the proper way to add coolant. You can open the cap when everything is cool if you’d like, but it will be full with no room to add coolant.
So if its low should we top it off
If everything is working correctly yes. But if something goes wrong it may not perform as designed, you need to check in the radiator to confirm coolant level is sufficient.
@Policecamcaptures yes, top it off in the radiator (or pressurized expansion tank) but keep an eye on it. It shouldn’t need topping off for months
@@Onlyinbean Sure. But always fill the reservoir to the minimum line also. If the reservoir is full but the radiator is low, you’ve got a leak between the two that needs attention.
You are correct.
“Budget Mechanic “ , says it all
😂 ouch. Man you went 4 the throat on that 1😂
Wrong. A low radiator fluid level will be replenished from the reservoir over a given heat cycle or two. Go drain 16 ounces out of the radiator petcock and get the car hot. Turn off the car. Fill the reservoir to the full mark. Next morning reservoir will be empty because it replenished the lost fluid.
It can only replenish because there is a leak.....
so if your overflow bottle is empty...there is a leak in the coolant system.
If the coolant bottle is full...there may be a leak in the hose connecting the coolant overflow to the radiator...
and this is allowing air to enter...
and not allowing the radiator to suck back fluid to replenish the leak.
Always check the radiator level.......
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq so when I replenished mine the next morning after draining and filling my radiator, you’re telling me I have a leak? Ok
@@condor5635
No;
If you have completely drained and then refilled your radiator....
unless you are certain you have "burped" the whole coolant system and got all the trapped air out....
then it is possible for the cooling radiator to suck all of the coolant out of the overflow bottle....because you had air in the system to start with...which has now been replaced with coolant drawn from the overflow bottle..
However if you fill the radiator all the way up and refill the coolant overflow all the way to the full line....
drive the vehicle...
park it overnight.....
and find the overflow bottle empty the next morning...
for day after day...
then you have a leak.
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq - I didn’t say day after day I said the day after you have to fill it after a drain and fill. And that is if you burp it very well. I’ve done this many times, and I get the air out of the system as per the process but every morning the next day I always have to put some more in the reservoir. That’s all I’m saying it doesn’t mean you have a leak. Obviously if you keep doing that every day, then you have a leak.
@@JohnSmith-yv6eqlowkey im having this problem idk what to do
Yes, you put the coolant in the overflow. Because, when the engine cools off , if the radiator or the cooling system is low, a vacuum is created and coolant is sucked from the overflow into the engine, next time , you fill rhe overflow again. Unless, you have a leak in your system, then you have bigger problems than low coolant.
To further specify cool, make sure your vehicle hasn’t been running in the past 6 hours lol I’ve had too many friends get burnt up from opening the radiator cap when it’s not cool enough yet
This man does not understand “solid” fluid systems. Many new vehicles don’t have radiator caps(or they aren’t easily accessible) the reservoir is needed bc the coolant expands as it gets hot and then contracts again when it cools. So the coolant can expand out into the reservoir then when it cools off again the coolant shrinks, because the system is closed this creates a negative pressure in the coolant system which pulls the contents of the reservoir back into the radiator until the pressure is neutral again. Notice how there is a hose connected to the bottom of the reservoir. Adding coolant to the reservoir is just fine. It will not cause an issue. Any air that happens to enter the coolant system will be “belched” out when the system gets hot again because reservoir is vented at the top.
I have a 2014 Outback. While filling the windshield wiper fluid container, earlier today, I happened to look at the coolant level. It was completely empty. I couldn't figure out why my car had not notified me that I was out of coolant. This video just explained that. What a relief!
Excellent!
I own three cars right now, none of them even has a radiator cap. This video is good advice if your car is from 30 years ago or older.
Good luck finding the radiator cap. Notice the cap on the reservoir - it's labeled in PSI. The bottle is the radiator access.
The reservoir overflows tank on my car has the radiator cap on it and it goes to the radiator. The water pump actually empty’s into the overflow. That’s how it is on my dodge challenger.
Yes some cars have an expansion tank that is pressurized instead of a passive overflow bottle
Thanks for the short and to the point video. This is all I needed answered.
I hated long videos that’s why I started this channel 😂
A Properly functioning cooling system would indicate the amount of fluid in the system by the overflow bottle. So unless the system is leaking, putting it in the overflow would get it back into the system just fine.
My Tacoma overflow bottle has a full and low line. Should the full line be reached at cold or warmed up? Is it bad if it goes over full when warmed up?
Depends on the vehicle, some only fill up from the resivore but if you have a place in your radiator to fill up the radiator, you better go into the radiator bc on those said vehicles, the resivore is only there for over flow
The video is correct.
Open the radiator cap (only when engine is cold), fill to full, then watch fill line on reservoir, fill until it's between min and full (being conservative), and you're good to go. Be sure to use the right coolant, Toyotas should be red, but check the color and documents of which coolant, the newer versions G12+ and G13 don't have much problems mixing with old versions of coolant, to be safe flush ALL old coolant out, preferably run with pure distilled water once and then flush it ALL again, refill with new, premixed coolant, check the freezing point should be around 40-50 minus C.
Very detailed!
My 2014 ford focus i have to top it off at the reservoir. Except my 2003 dodge dakota 3.9 this truck is a beast and in my book the best of the best . If you maintain it.
Fill those over flow tank forgot about this guy. After you drive it getting hot and after it cool down it creates vacuum suck back cooling back to its system
Some cars don't have radiator caps
How is the blinker fluid level?
My radiator cap is behind the vehicles faceplate. I would have to take the face plate completely off EVERY TIME I wanted to check my fluid. HELL NO. I use the overflow to gauge if it needs a top off or not, because its right there on top of the engine.
What car?
2012 Acadia@@BudgetMechanicHawaii
My car just stopped! Just replaced my alternator so it's not that or battery 2 weeks ago and it was ok. So I look and no coolant😢 Just brought some coolant and watched your video. Praying it starts
did you find out the issue
you proba need to do a raditor flush get a flush treatment then do all full flush see if that helps
Haha did you check the oil?
You want to START filling it while the engine is cool, you need to start the engine and run it to help burp out any excess O2 that’s still trapped in. You can typically squeeze the upper and lower hoses to help.
Damn this is super helpful!!
Start car bring up to operating temp after t stat opens and level drops add coolant then put on a new radiator cap
Thanks bro. That’s exactly what I needed to know.
Glad I could help
I don’t know much about cars. Thank god I read the comments 😅
Alone, stuck with two disabled kids, a service dog and zero support help. Your video will get me home hopefully. If not, I lose the car and I'm done, it's over. Here's hoping for the best!
hey what happened ?
Funny, it's sez in almost all manuals that IS the way you fill/top off our radiator fluid
No cap here, think it goes in the overflow... :)
Someone watched this video and went to "add coolant the right way" while his car running
He clearly said “make sure your engine is cool”
Bro.. you just caused about 1000 second degree burns 🤣🤣
Thanks to youtube learning, the real mechanic shops are getting more work. Keep it up 👍👍 keep posting and thank you
I do both unless the car only has a overflow reservoir
If the engine is cool just keep filling the reservoir! It will fill the radiator
Ty! I’ve done this before but his video scared me as if it’s wrong. I always do the reservoir
A lot of modern cars don’t have this. You just fill from the overflow tank and don’t let it run dry. The engine won’t overheat fast enough for it to be a problem and as long as you don’t let the overflow tank go dry, you won’t burn out the water pump. Best way to do it is remove the fuel pump relay, have someone inside the car cranking the engine, while you add coolant to the reservoir, once the reservoir stops emptying out, you’re good to go.
I heard, try to not remove radiator cap from radiator, gasket might lose its ability to seal … You should have an extra cap in vehicle, just in case
Nah it’s unlikely unless it’s a really old one
Right, extreme cases … I would hope, it’s not the case,
but it’s a practice …
@@drah9955 right but if you’re filling up the radiator or especially if you need to do a pressure test you need to put it directly into the radiator, if the radiator cap seal is bad after taking it off then it was already bad in the first place
@@fearlesspie1314 … So, having a new cap/spare in vehicle, not a bad idea
@@drah9955 technically not, but for the most part unnecessary
Not on Euro 💶 brands: VW, Skoda, Manseratti, BMW, Merc, Audi, Pugeot, Renault. These cars the reserve is the radiator filling it's dual.
Holy shit, this was me. Like actually. First time swapping coolant, I drained it, then I put the sealing spout in the overflow, and I was so confused why it was spilling out as I added fluid. It took me like an hour of freaking out to finally figure out that I was being super dumb.
It's not a over flow it's an expansion tank jeez
Yall who beginners please know all cars dont have the radiator cap. So yes put the coolant in the reservoir tank. If you flush the system have prior experience.
This kind of advice can lead to people removing the radiator cap while under pressure. Fill the overflow, the system will push out air when hot and pull in coolant when it cools. If your overflow is "boiling" you probably need a new radiator cap.
Okay so 1 does it really matter? And does the reservoir tell you when you need coolant? Or no because I have a thing of coolant but not sure if my car need any at all
Wrong. It is the overflow and also reserve tank. It takes as the engine needs and also returns when needed
Unfortunately not true. It cannot “take” until the engine completely cools
Dam man I feel stupid as hell 😂😂😂I’ve put it in the reservoir for years
There are two types of tanks.
-The overflow tank, like the one shown in this video, is just a tank to catch any overflow from the radiator. If you open this tank while the car is hot, it will not erupt. The bottle will usually have a snapping cap and the radiator will have an accessible cap of its own.
-The coolant reservoir tank is a direct component of the pressurized cooling system. It will always have 2 or more hoses connected to it and pressure release cap that screws on until it clicks. If the system is hot, removing the cap will cause an eruption. The radiator will not have a cap, as one is not necessary.
Know your system. An overflow tank that's low on fluid, means nothing. A reservoir tank that's low, means you might have a problem.
Super helpful!
So glad!
You can definitely add coolant to the reservoir. Even honda manuals suggest topping it up through the reservoir if it’s running low
Note that many cars dont have a radiator cap directly on the radiator, they have two plastic containers one taping the radiator and another overflow container.
The reservoir is not an overflow, it's an expansion tank. Coolant fills the reservoir when hot and is sucked back in when cools down. The overflow is a hose from that reservoir which dumps the excess of coolant, in case you add too much.
It’s not an “overflow” reservoir, it’s just a coolant reservoir. The radiator cap had a spring in it that shrinks when hot. Two things can happen in this process if the radiator is too hot or too pressurized. If it’s too hot the spring will open up, and the pressure from the water pump will suck fluid out of the reservoir, or if it’s too pressurized, the spring will open allowing the excess amount of coolant to flow into the reservoir.
I’m afraid this is not true. The water pump never creates suction. The rad cap only open due to high pressure.
Well here’s the thing I just filled up my 750li with coolant and it had bleeder valves built into the heads and you can fill the expansion tank because it’s the only access point. Proccess is fill up put car in position two turn on heater to full to turn on secondary pump and bleed that then fill more turn car on then leave cap off for an entire heating cycle after that put cap on run one more heat cycle the next day then go ahead and fill if needed then drive
When youve only worked on 1 car ever and dont know what the fk you're talking about.
Actually, that's not true. Because if the radiator is low it pulls from the overflow due to vacuum
Good to know that, Thanks!
Happy to help
No sir, you are wrong., the coolant is under pressure when hot and vacuume when cool. That bottle displays the coolant amount in system......
If you can’t see the radiator cap you most likely have a coolant reservoir that’s where you add coolant but if you can see the radiator cap always add to the radiator then the overflow to the proper level
This was correct until about 10ish years ago, my current car has no cap, only way to fill is that plastic bottle on the side 😂
That's why he said if you car has to caps
It's not overflow, it's just the reservoir putting coolant there will circulate through the radiator
It will, but it will only draw small amount into the coolant system at a time after the engine cools down
MAKE SURE YOU ENGINE IS COLD!!!!!ONLY DO THIS WHEN YOUR ENGINE IS COLD!!!!! kindve odd how he whispered that part though,, if your running around town just fill it in the over flow reservoir tank passed the full line about 1 or 2 centimeters over the full line continue to drive and park again and check again,if the tank liquid has gone down again it has filled the radiator
That’s an expansion tank a sealed radiator system has a reservoir! Pipe in pipe out expansion tank 1 pipe from top off radiator and a vent to atmosphere
Coolant doesn't make your engine colder. It is used to increase the boiling point and lower freezing point of the water in your radiator.
You're wrong. The radiator cap for those systems have a check valve. As the system heats, pressure rises. The liquid goes places(tank) as the system cools, it develops a vacuum, overcoming the check valve and drawing in lost fluid from the tank. If you are not recovering fluid from the tank, you have a leak preventing vacuum or your cap is shit.
Let’s disagree to agree
It's ok to put it in the res if u are aware of how it ebbs and flows based on temp. Obviously if the amount ur adding is substantial then yea u wouldn't but it wouldn't hurt anything unless ubover filled the res and the coolant has no where to go as it heats uo and expands
Technically, if the system is bled properly and your radiator cap is good, the coolant level in the bottle should fluctuate. As long as it’s in range on the bottle, and it never goes dry in the bottle, should be golden.
Appreciate the video man 🫡
I was losing coolant but my overflow was full seems my car was leaking, replaced radiator cap, everything works great now
Some car (mine for example) need to be filled by the reservoir. The reservoir is higher then the radiator so it fill it until the level line.
Not every car, some cars allow coolant to be filled from only the expansion tank.
It is advised if your car is running, than add coolant in the expansion tank.
My left ear:🔊 my right ear:🔇
Um OK. Run your car and tip coolant in and leave it running for awhile and eventually the thermostat will open up and you will notice the coolant drop and keep filling untill it seems to maintain the full level. Maybe even go for a drive then check again 😊
Most new cars the overflow is the highest point in the system
Actually it’s correct nomenclature is “Degassing tank”
Thank you
Thank you so much!!
That works all good unless you have a sealed system, at that point the plastic resivor is your only way to check and fill the cooing system. My truck is a sealed system.
Check the reservoir regularly and you won't have that issue. Also if you fill through the reservoir watch and see how much it pull and fill back to the hot line.
The fact this has to be explained is sad. If you want to add coolant start the engine with the cap off, fill, wait till the coolant level drops when the thermostat opens, then fill again and replace cap, do this with the reservoir close to empty so you can see the air bleed out into it and the excess from fully filling it will then bleed over once the air is out.
You need to explain to the people viewing, some vehicles dont have radiator caps, resvoir caps
He did pin the full video link but no one in these comments seems to take the time to look...
Instructions unclear, removing the radiator cap resulted in most my skin being removed from both arms
The overflow bottle for any ford truck is the way you put any freeze into the radiator there's no other way.
90% of cars dont have a cap on the radiator nowadays, you're supposed to put the coolant in the reservoir
After refilling the radiator, do we put any into the reservoir ?
Just fill the reservoir to the “ full mark “. If it’s already there at the mark, leave it alone. If it’s not , top it off.
Most vehicles on the road now don't have physical radiator caps. The only way to fill the radiators now is to fill them through the overflow expansion tank
Most is a strong statement, but I like strong
Works for ones that have a radiator cap. Come across some you have to do it that way.
Yep
Been doing it for years and is okay. It nothing in overflow than check your radiator. Not necessary to remove cap if has one
Except some cars you fill thru the overflow like the 97 ford f250 xl
Make sure your has completely cooled off before you open the radiator cap. This channel should have said that.
Coolant problems happen to most entry level drivers and experienced drivers. And not everyone knows this
Make sure my what is cooled off? You should’ve said that in your post ;)
Unless you have a Cadillac then there is NO cap on the radiator. You have to use the overflow. Definitely worth mentioning!!!!
Or a Honda, or a Toyota…
I hope people double check this info because it is wrong.
And how is it wrong?
@@drewdale76 unless the radiator is empty, you top off on the reserve tank. I actually read the owners manual.
@@allaboutroofing2 true for topping off but, this vid is titled FILLING...easy with the snark
@@drewdale76 and then the video shows a top off and fluid in the reserve. Pay attention.
I think your jumping to conclusions. Maybe stick to roofing?
I thought brake fluid keeps it warm so I add red fluid and it’s stays cool now 👍
My coolant on the catch tank is below minimium but when I take the radiator cap of, It's full. Is there something I should be worried about?
Ok tell us how to do that with a semi engine 😂😂😂
Im grateful for ALL the comments… seriously 👍
If the clear bottle on the side is low is that good or bad?
And if you don't have that direct access cap on the radiator and only the overflow? You need a fill tool that connect to the plastic reservoir, pump the air out and then allow the coolant to be drawn in, requires multiple steps but it works.
If you only have an expansion tank you fill it there, yes
Well seeing as though the rad in commected to the overflow resevoir. If ur resevoir has coolant in it , ur radiator is full