Coolant level

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Mar 7, 2011 | 05:08 PM

guido7834

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Melting Slicks

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From: SC

Coolant level

When fluid is cold should it be right at the mark on the surge tank or a little above?

Mar 7, 2011 | 05:26 PM

lucky131969

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From: Dyer, IN

Quote:

Originally Posted by guido7834

When fluid is cold should it be right at the mark on the surge tank or a little above?

The line is there to give you a reference. If it's a little above, it's not the end or the world. If it bothers you, then suck some fluid out.

Mar 7, 2011 | 05:30 PM

Bill Dearborn

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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)

Quote:

Originally Posted by guido7834

When fluid is cold should it be right at the mark on the surge tank or a little above?

Service Manual says fill to 1/2 inch below fill Cold Line.

Bill

Mar 7, 2011 | 05:32 PM

guido7834

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Melting Slicks

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From: SC

Just asking because I smell coolant an can't locate the leak. Used dye today and saw some coolant around the cap which I replace a month ago. Level is about a half inch above full mark. Was wondering if it is too full, causing pressure to force it out the cap. can't see coolant any where else. Or maybe the new cap is bad?

Mar 7, 2011 | 05:38 PM

Bill Dearborn

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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)

Quote:

Originally Posted by guido7834

Check your coolant tank very carefully for leaks around the seam and where the hoses connect. I had the same thing and changed the cap and it still did not correct the leak. Upon closer investigation the seam was leaking on the side toward the rear of the engine compartment and the coolant was working its way up the side and into the groove leading to the coolant cap. Not sure why liquid was flowing up hill but it was. Once the tank was replaced the slight coolant smell I had been chasing for several months disappeared.

Bill

Mar 8, 2011 | 12:39 AM

a/c man

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From: East Texas

Im wondering if its overfull will it burp some out the cap??

Mar 8, 2011 | 07:06 AM

guido7834

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Melting Slicks

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From: SC

Quote:

Originally Posted by a/c man

Im wondering if its overfull will it burp some out the cap??

That's what I wonder. I am going to drop the level a bit and see what happens. This has me stumped. I have no drips and the level in the tank has not gone down.

Mar 8, 2011 | 09:14 AM

lucky131969

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From: Dyer, IN

Quote:

Originally Posted by guido7834

That's what I wonder. I am going to drop the level a bit and see what happens. This has me stumped. I have no drips and the level in the tank has not gone down.

As already suggested, you need to perform some visual inspection. You need to get under the car with a flashlight, and look around at: hose connections, under the water pump/thermostat, etc. Also, look underneath the radiator support, because you cannot see that hose connection. Until you have looked at everything, you really don't know for sure.