"Coolant Low" - DEX-COOL
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 1
From: Burlington County NJ
"Coolant Low" - DEX-COOL
Got this DIC message last nite. The users manual says to only use DEX-COOL. has anyone used anything else? I ended up just putting about 12 oz of water in and it was enough to clear the message. I guess i will have to pick up this DEX-COOL stuff. is it available all over?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 4
From: Crete IL
Got this DIC message last nite. The users manual says to only use DEX-COOL. has anyone used anything else? I ended up just putting about 12 oz of water in and it was enough to clear the message. I guess i will have to pick up this DEX-COOL stuff. is it available all over?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
When it say only use dexcool, it means don't use the green stuff. They are not compatible, and a cooling system should never be switched over from one to the other. But you still mix dexcool with water. Like the green stuff, the ratio is up to you. I don't have to worry about freezing, so I have been using 1/3 dexcool, 2/3 water.
And like already mentioned, you can find it almost anywhere.
And like already mentioned, you can find it almost anywhere.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 1
From: Burlington County NJ
well i have 14k miles and have never had to add any coolant or get a message before. I couldnt see the line so i figured i would just pour the bottle of water i had into it (about 12 oz) and the error went away, so it looks like it was a tiny tiny drop low. Then i drove the car about 10 miles and the temp gauge stayed normal.
is it that abnormal to burn a little off? I believe the manual says if u need to add collant more than 3-4 times a year, then theres a problem.
when i get out of work , I will check what level its at.
thoughts?
is it that abnormal to burn a little off? I believe the manual says if u need to add collant more than 3-4 times a year, then theres a problem.
when i get out of work , I will check what level its at.
thoughts?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 973
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '08
Thats a good question. I dont know how much evap is normal. I havent added any in 2 years but u might be in a much warmer climate or track the car. Oops, we are in the same state. U been doing many of those miles 1/4 at a time at Englishtown ? 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
Perhaps the best advice for now would be to check the level and all the connections for signs of any leaks and then keep and eye on it, especially with the warmer summer weather not too far off.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 1
From: Burlington County NJ
ive made 2 passes atco, but i drive the car hard at times.
about where do u live?
about where do u live?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 1
From: Burlington County NJ
ive made 2 passes atco, but i drive the car hard at times.
about where do u live?
about where do u live?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 54
From: slower lower DE
As Miaugi noted, cooling system is a closed system. It may have come low from the factory, so watch it. If you keep losing it there is a leak somewhere. You might want to look around under the car for discoloration/crystalization - might be the sign of a coolant leak. Or better yet, take it to the dealer to check it out. That way if they find nothing you have established a service record in case there is a problem that went undetected. BTW- you do not just mix coolant with water at whatever mixture ration you think is right - the service manual will telll you what is right for your car. Coolant pH is critical in aluminum systems and can influence the myriad of sensors that rely on proper coolant mixture/temp. Also, mixing at the incorrect ratios can contribute to internal corrision.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 973
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '08
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
BTW- you do not just mix coolant with water at whatever mixture ration you think is right - the service manual will telll you what is right for your car. Coolant pH is critical in aluminum systems and can influence the myriad of sensors that rely on proper coolant mixture/temp. Also, mixing at the incorrect ratios can contribute to internal corrision.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 54
From: slower lower DE
http://www.imcool.com/articles/antif...l-macs2001.htm
For those of you interested in the proper mix ratio, please see bullets 5 and 6 of the article.
For those of you interested in the proper mix ratio, please see bullets 5 and 6 of the article.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,001
Likes: 2,700
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
AFAIK, Dexcool is Dexcool. But you've got to be careful with some brands like Toyota, they make two orange/pink coolants that are hard to tell apart unless you have them side by side.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 362
Likes: 1
From: Chicago IL
I had one of these "low coolant" incidents and responded by picking up a couple gallons of distilled water so I could get home and check it properly.
Turned out that I was only a few ounces low, if low at all. The no-float, non-mechanical way our cars has of monitoring coolant level also means that the "low coolant" warning can sometimes be wrong, especially if we don't warm up the car sufficiently before taking off. Starting in a warm garage, I usually allow a minute or two of warmup before taking off. That particular morning when I got the "low coolant" warning, I drove off after only about a 10 second warmup. False alarm.
Turned out that I was only a few ounces low, if low at all. The no-float, non-mechanical way our cars has of monitoring coolant level also means that the "low coolant" warning can sometimes be wrong, especially if we don't warm up the car sufficiently before taking off. Starting in a warm garage, I usually allow a minute or two of warmup before taking off. That particular morning when I got the "low coolant" warning, I drove off after only about a 10 second warmup. False alarm.
