WARNING: Never open your coolant cap or touch any parts of the cooling system when hot.

0:00 Overflow / reserve tank design (non- pressurized)
1:23 Expansion tank design (pressurized)
2:22 Coolant is a maintainence item


Models shown:
- Honda City/Jazz GE8/Fit (2009-2014)
- Toyota Fortuner 2nd Gen 2022
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Ever wondered why your car's coolant level drops over time or what happens if you overfill it?
Knowing how to manage your car's coolant can prevent overheating, engine damage, and costly repairs. Our clear and concise guide will help you understand what to expect and how to keep your cooling system in top shape.

Coolant is a mixture of antifreeze (ethylene glycol) and water(distiled), usually in a 50-50 ratio. It also contains inhibitors to prevent corrosion or rust buildup. Because coolant is a liquid, mainly water, it can evaporate due to heat. While engine cooling systems are similar there are differences.

In the first part of the video I show you a cooling system that has a radiator and radiator cap that connects to an overflow or reserve tank. This tank is not presurized, so coolant in this tank is subject to evaporation. The overflow tank cap isnt sealed tight by design. If the cooling system becomes pressurized more than it should be, coolant can escape through the cap. This is to prevent putting pressure on other parts of the cooling system. We do not want any other hose, seal or part to fail due to excessive pressure.

In the second part of the video the toyota fortuner has a radiator connected to an expansion tank that has an expansion tank cap. This is presurized so such systems lose less coolant from evaporation compared to the non presurized overflow tank. There still may be very minor evaporation loss. This expansion tank has an overflow pipe/tube or passage. This is deigned to the weakest point in case the pressure builds up more. Coolant can exit the tank this way out into the engine bay/atmosphere.

If your coolant is dropping rapidly from the maximum to minimum level within a couple of weeks you must inspect your system for leaks. It is hard to visually see coolant leaks as it evaporates quickly. Some white residue may be left behind due to non water composition that is mixed.

Never fill beyond the max level for your reserve or expansion tank. The remaining part of the empty bottle is to allow for coolant expansion, as coolant expands when hot. When topping up your coolant, use the same brand. Mixing coolants can be disasterous and destroy your cooling system which will then destroy your engine. You can buy premixed coolant from different manufacturers. You could also be concentrate and mix your own coolant, but this is more trouble than its worth.

If you have overfilled coolant, in most cases it is easier to remove a non pressurized coolant overflow (reservoir) tank. For a presurized expansion tank, it is also removable but you have to make sure you reconnect the hose from the radiator properly. Make sure the hose clamp is done properly. You could also use a long turkey baster or syringe.

If your coolant starts to overflow frequently this could indicate a problem with your head gasket, where combustion gases produced inside the engine enters into the cooling system. It could also happen due to a faulty radiator cap, a damaged thermostat or a clogged radiator.

Coolant is meant to be replaced after a certain amount of miles (or kilometers) or time. The owners manual do state the change interval. If you fail to change it, it eventually loses its properties which protect the coolant from extreme temperature and your engine cooling system from rust.

#coolant #diy #savemoney #carmaintenance #stepbystep #tutorial #vehiclecare #cartips
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Why it's normal for coolant levels to decrease over time
The consequences of overfilling your coolant
How to properly check and maintain coolant levels
Why is my coolant disappearing
why does my cars coolant reduce
evaporation of coolant
how much coolant should be in the tank reservoir


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