How to Check Coolant Levels

Most Fairfield-area drivers realize how important coolant is, but what is coolant, anyway? Although the term might refer to antifreeze or to a mixture of antifreeze and water, coolant is simply the fluid that regulates your vehicle’s temperature. Yes, it helps to prevent overheating, but that’s not all. It keeps crucial components from freezing, too! Now that you’ve got the basics down, we’re sure you’ll be eager to learn how to check your coolant level at home! It only takes a moment to learn how.

When to Check and Replace Your Coolant

Coolant levels deplete naturally over time, so in most cases, you won’t need to flush and replace the entire reservoir at once. However, you’ll want to check the coolant level at least once every three to six months. It doesn’t hurt to take a look every time you get under the hood, especially when the weather is working against you. If the color of your coolant is brownish or rust-colored, you may be dealing with a radiator issue. Clear radiator fluid might also be worn out, so it’s worth replacing all at once.

Checking Your Coolant Level at Home

Whenever you’re interacting with the radiator, you need to make sure that you’ve given your vehicle plenty of time to cool. With that said, you probably won’t need to touch the radiator in order to check your coolant level! Here’s how it’s done:

1. Open the hood and locate the radiator. It’s usually near the top of your engine, closer to the windshield.
2. There should be a translucent tank in the radiator’s immediate vicinity. “Minimum” and “Maximum” lines should be clearly visible.
3. If you’re low, give your engine plenty of time to cool, and then remove the radiator cap.
4. You can pick up fresh coolant at our parts department, make a 50/50 mix at home in Westport or Stamford, and add it to the reservoir yourself.

After you’re finished, check the hoses nearby to make sure that there are no obvious leaks. Make a note on the color of your coolant, so you can identify leaks later if and when liquid pools beneath your vehicle.

What to Look for When Checking Coolant

If you know how to check your coolant level regularly, you may not ever face major problems with your radiator or your reservoir. However, there are several serious indicators that you’ll want to keep an eye out for:

• Coolant is usually just a little bit thicker than water. If it’s as thick or thicker than oil, you’ll want to schedule service as soon as possible. A leaking gasket may be contaminating your coolant.
• If you’re losing fluid rapidly, or if your levels are much lower than expected, you could be dealing with a cracked reservoir or leaking hose. Since overheating can cause permanent damage to your engine, this isn’t the kind of fix you’ll want to put off.
• As we noted above, coolant that starts to take on a rusty tone may be coming into contact with a damaged radiator. It’s worth it to schedule service as soon as possible.

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Learning how to check coolant levels at home is the easiest way to prevent overheating and freezing parts. Don’t forget that no matter what problems you’re facing, there’s a good chance that you can benefit by exploring our service specials and our parts coupons.

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