What Causes the Car Coolant Light to Illuminate?
2 Answers
The reasons for the car coolant light illuminating are as follows: 1. Low coolant level: This situation occurs when the engine is just started, and simply adding coolant will resolve it. 2. Coolant boiling: If the light comes on during driving, it is likely due to the coolant boiling. Below is an introduction to the functions of coolant: 1. Winter antifreeze: To prevent the coolant from freezing and causing the radiator or engine block to crack when the car is parked in winter, the freezing point of the coolant should be about 10°C lower than the lowest temperature in the region, preparing for sudden weather changes. 2. Anti-corrosion: Acidic products formed by the decomposition of glycol-based substances in the coolant and acidic exhaust gases from fuel combustion may also penetrate the cooling system, accelerating corrosion of the cooling system.
Oh, the sudden illumination of the car's coolant warning light is definitely not a good sign. From my driving experience, the most common cause is insufficient coolant, either due to leakage or evaporation from prolonged lack of topping up. You can start by popping the hood to check the coolant reservoir level - if it's below the minimum mark, quickly add some distilled water or dedicated coolant as an emergency measure. But don't take it lightly; this light could also indicate aging seal leaks or a loose radiator cap causing pressure loss. I remember one time my car had this issue, and I struggled to drive home only to find a huge puddle of coolant under the radiator. Insufficient coolant can lead to engine overheating and cylinder seizure, resulting in astronomical repair costs. So my advice is to immediately turn off the engine when you see this light, check if you can top up the coolant yourself, then head to a repair shop ASAP to locate any leaks.
