Is there any impact if the car's antifreeze exceeds the max level?
2 Answers
There is no impact if the car's antifreeze exceeds the max level. The excess antifreeze will expand due to heat during the car's operation and overflow from the pressure relief valve, causing no harm but leaving some stains. It is recommended to remove the excess with a syringe. Generally, the antifreeze reservoir has a max water level mark and a min water level mark. The antifreeze should be filled between the max and min levels. The full name of antifreeze is antifreeze coolant, meaning it is a coolant with antifreeze function. It can prevent the coolant from freezing and cracking the radiator or damaging the engine cylinder block or head during cold winter parking.
As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I believe that overfilling the coolant beyond the MAX line does have negative effects, even though they may not be immediately noticeable. In the long run, it's not good. The cooling system expands when the car is running, and if the fluid level is too high, the expansion pressure has nowhere to go, which may cause the radiator cap to release pressure or damage the sealing gasket, leading to fluid leakage. I made this mistake once, and after starting the car, the overflow tank spilled everywhere, corroding the surrounding metal parts and costing me some money in repairs. Not to mention during seasons with large temperature fluctuations, like winter when the coolant freezes and expands even more, it can easily burst the pipes. So it's best to check the fluid level when the car is cold and keep it between MIN and MAX. If it's overfilled, use a syringe to remove the excess. During regular maintenance, pay extra attention to the aging of the cooling system, such as checking for cracks in the pipes, to prevent issues and save both hassle and money.
