What does the low coolant warning mean?
3 Answers
Prompting low coolant may have the following meanings: 1. It may be due to coolant evaporation, causing the coolant level to decrease. You need to open the auxiliary water tank cap to check the coolant level. If the coolant level is found to be below the minimum line, simply add coolant to the standard level. 2. There may be an internal fault in the car. It is necessary to connect a coolant pressure gauge. If the auxiliary water tank cap indicates that the standard pressure of the cooling system is 200KPa, use the pressure gauge to inject 200KPa pressure for inspection. Additionally, check all coolant hoses, joints, radiator, water pump, and other related parts of the cooling system for any signs of leakage.
Yesterday I just helped my neighbor check his car's coolant warning light, which essentially means one simple thing – the radiator is running low on cooling fluid. It's like when your phone battery flashes red; you need to address it immediately. When coolant is insufficient, the engine temperature can skyrocket, causing the water temperature gauge to max out, and in severe cases, it may lead to cylinder scoring or head gasket failure. I've seen people ignore it and keep driving, only to end up spending 20,000 yuan on engine repairs. Common causes usually include aging seals causing leaks or pinhole leaks in the radiator. Additionally, in winter, hoses may shrink and crack, while in summer, a poorly sealed radiator cap can cause excessive evaporation. If you see the warning light, don’t turn off the engine right away—let it idle to cool down first, then check the level in the overflow tank.
The car indicates low coolant level, meaning the reservoir level has dropped below the safety line. This fluid is primarily composed of ethylene glycol aqueous solution, responsible for absorbing engine heat to prevent overheating. Once during a long-distance trip, the warning light came on, and I discovered it was due to aging and leakage at the heater hose connector. In fact, leakage points can vary widely, including the water pump shaft seal, heater core, or cylinder head gasket. Excessive engine temperature can reduce the lubricating effectiveness of engine oil and accelerate cylinder wall wear. When topping up, remember to do it when the engine is cold—first unscrew the expansion tank cap, then add coolant of the same color code to the mid-level line. If the warning recurs frequently within a short period, use a UV light to inspect for leaks.
