What are the reasons for the unexplained loss of coolant?
2 Answers
The reason for the unexplained loss of coolant is: there may be minor leaks in certain components, and it is recommended to have the vehicle inspected and repaired at a 4S shop. Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is designed to prevent the freezing of the cooling liquid during cold winter parking, which could otherwise cause the radiator to crack or the engine cylinder block to freeze. It is a specially formulated cooling liquid containing additives, primarily used in liquid-cooled engine cooling systems. Coolant offers excellent properties such as preventing freezing in winter, boiling in summer, and protecting against scale and corrosion year-round. It is crucial to pay attention to the quality of the coolant used. If the coolant is of poor quality or even counterfeit, it will not serve its intended purpose. The cooling liquid is typically a mixture of antifreeze and water in a specific ratio. Automobile manufacturers usually specify the mixing ratio for different low-temperature antifreeze grades in the user manual and also designate the type of antifreeze to be used, which should not be mixed with other types.
I drive a ten-year-old car, and recently noticed the coolant level keeps dropping significantly even without long-distance driving. At first, I thought it was normal evaporation in high temperatures, but the drastic decrease every time I checked the level clearly indicated a problem. Over the weekend, I did my own inspection and found a small crack at the radiator joint. The leakage wasn't obvious but was constant, with coolant stains all under the engine. The sweet smell of leaking antifreeze is a telltale sign – this is actually a common issue. Had the coolant leaked into the engine combustion chamber, symptoms like white exhaust smoke or starting difficulties would have been much worse. I immediately got the radiator joint repaired. Left unfixed, it could have led to engine overheating and cylinder scoring – a disaster. For routine maintenance, I recommend checking the coolant reservoir monthly when the engine is cold, ensuring the level stays between the marks. Don't wait until there's a noticeable shortage to act. Small leaks are easy to overlook but can accumulate into major problems.
