[MR2] Coolant Level

[Kurt Krueger]

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "J Treadwell" <DBSS_Gohan at hotmail.com>
>
> Alright, I don't seem to have an overheating problem, my temp gauge in the 
> dash only comes up to not quite half way. Not all the way, Just almost 
> there. Probably 3 bars from it, but I havent counted. Now I keep checking 
> the top coolant fill in the engine bay, and I keep topping it off, and it 
> keeps ending up lower than it was before cold when I look at it again. I 
> can't see how much is in the radiator resivuar, but I was just wondering 
> where all this stuff was going. When the motors hot, it spews out the cap 
> really easily. But is this going somewhere I don't realize? Or into the 
> overfill?
> Thanks,
> --John 

First thing is to make sure the car is really cold and you don't have
any collapsed hoses before you take off the radiator cap.  Give the
thing time to suck the coolant overflow back into the system.  If you're
stone cold and a hose is collapsed, then the coolant is not being
sucked back into the system.  Could be the radiator cap, could be a
hose that has gone soft.

A member has reported a rotten tube or overflow bottle cap that
allowed the system to suck air rather than coolant.

You also need to figure how to check the overflow bottle level.
Lots of clues there.  Mirror?  Dip stick?

On the not quite up to temperature: the thermostat could be
leaking just a hair.  If it comes up to temp on a warm day,
that's probably the cause.  I've had both the leak issue and
an issue where the thermostat would open just a bit at a too
low temperature.

Then there's the other not so pleasant possibilities.  Like a
blown had gasket, for instance.