Overflow Container gets down with no leak - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

rcastro · 09-09-2005, 10:54 AM

Hi people,
I have a 03 Corolla and the OF Container gets down as I keep filling it. The temperature stays in the middle of the thermometer and no leak is seen (even no puddle when is parked).

I took my car to a Cooling System place and they connected a pump directly to the radiator to check for leaks and everything is ok.

What do you guys recommend me to do?

Thx

***REN69*** · 09-09-2005, 02:10 PM

Stop filling it.. you probably have more than enough fluid in there already!

Is the car running hot?

Flashmn · 09-09-2005, 02:52 PM

If the engine is cold, it supposed to be at the lower mark. When its hot its supposed to be at the upper mark or somewhere in between.

rcastro · 09-10-2005, 04:46 PM

The temp keeps always in the middle (that's the normal condition) but coolant always keeps getting down.

I drain/flush the radiator today and put new coolant... let's see what happens now.

Thanx,
RCastro

Flashmn · 09-10-2005, 04:56 PM

I meant coolant level, not the temperature gauge.

Williams · 09-10-2005, 05:25 PM

You fail to mention the volumne of water that you are adding each time. Is it only a couple of cups? Don't fill it completely up, because like most liquids coolant expands when heated. If it is only going down a small amount, don't worry about it. Also when doing a cooling system pressure test(with a pressure pump), it should be done with warm coolant(READ WARM, NOT HOT), as some leaks will only show with warm coolant. With the car cold, open the rad and confirm that the water level is at least 1 1/2-2" below the bottom of filler neck, likely you will just barely see the water about the level of the cooling fins of the radiator. Next confirm that the overflow bottle is at the cold level. Now seal the rad cap and away you go. Next morning check the level again....it will or should be the same in both the rad & overflow. Don't go looking for a problem that you don't have.....but on the other hand if the radiator takes 3-4 litres more every morning then keep looking

Flashmn · 09-11-2005, 03:27 AM

Coolant level check would be done on a cold engine, not a hot engine.

rcastro · 09-12-2005, 09:18 PM

After the drain/flush everything is OK!!!

Thanks to all for the advises.

RCastro

Williams · 09-12-2005, 09:50 PM

yes Flashmn, that's correct, the best time to check your antifreeze level is first thing in the morning with a cold engine. However, when one is using a pressure pump(ie Stant makes a good one) to locate the source of difficult to find leaks it is best to have the engine WARM(not HOT) as some leaks can not be found with a stone cold engine. Trust me.

Flashmn · 09-13-2005, 07:21 AM

When you use the pressure tester, I'd do it with a cold engine too. Moment you open the radiator cap, one of two things can happen 1)its under pressure and it would shoot out 2)You remove the vacuum and when it cools down, you're gonna have the coolant in the expansion tank that should be in the engine and you have air in the block.