What are the symptoms of low coolant in a car?
2 Answers
When the vehicle's coolant is insufficient, the water temperature warning light will illuminate while driving. This light, which resembles two wavy lines with a thermometer, indicates that it's time to add more coolant. Coolant replacement method: Before completely replacing the coolant, conduct a thorough inspection to check for any signs of leakage or cracks in the pipes, with particular attention to the five-way hose. The five-way hose gets its name from having five connection points to different parts of the vehicle. Coolant flows through the five-way hose and is distributed to various parts of the car to perform its function. If there is any coolant leakage in this area, replace the hose or resecure the connections as needed. Drain the old coolant, then flush the channels with clean water. Add clean water to the coolant reservoir, then continue adding water to ensure a continuous flow through the engine cooling system. Start the engine and let it idle for 3 to 5 minutes to circulate the water. Initially, the water draining from the reservoir may have a faint pink tint. Continue adding clean water until the drained water runs clear. Remember to disconnect the heater hose and drain the water from the heater core. After draining for about an hour, add the new coolant through the radiator hose to allow it to flow quickly into the radiator. Then, add another container of coolant to the reservoir until it is nearly full. Start the engine and let it run for about 10 minutes. During this time, the coolant level will drop slightly as air is purged from the cooling system. Top up the coolant to the "MAX" mark on the reservoir.
Last time I drove to the countryside, I experienced a sudden spike in the coolant temperature gauge. It felt like the engine was throwing a tantrum—the temperature warning light on the dashboard suddenly flashed a glaring red, and thin wisps of white smoke seeped out from under the hood, with a slightly sweet smell. I quickly pulled over and found the coolant reservoir almost empty—turned out the sealing cap had aged and was leaking. Long-term coolant deficiency doesn’t just cause engine overheating and increase the risk of cylinder damage; it can also corrode cooling system components, like hose connectors or the radiator, leading to costly repairs. Now I’ve made it a habit to check the coolant level monthly—just unscrew the cap to see if the fluid is between the MIN and MAX marks, and top it off with qualified coolant if needed. Don’t underestimate this small task—safety is no trivial matter. Otherwise, getting stranded on the highway and calling a tow truck would be even more embarrassing.
