Engine Coolant level too high

box · 20 Sep 2008 at 15:33

I had to top up my engine coolant the other day due to a small leak (now fixed). However, the engine was slightly warm when I topped up. I took another look at the coolant level this morning after the car had been stationary all night. It is sitting about an inch above the MAX mark. Is this going to cause problems, or can I safely just leave it be?

Many thanks.

loltim · 20 Sep 2008 at 15:40

Can you not detach the coolant reservoir and pour a little out?

Should be fine, though.

Rich1988 · 20 Sep 2008 at 16:51

just undo the jubilee clip from the return pipe near the top of the resivior and let some out

Locky · 20 Sep 2008 at 17:53

just leave it be, it will be fine, if you really need yo drain any use a leather or a rag to soak the water up untill the level is reached.

BigglesPiP · 20 Sep 2008 at 17:57

You're going to have to get a straw and drink some. Or just leave it, 1" is nothing to loose sleep over.

Finglonga · 20 Sep 2008 at 17:58

It will only get higher as it expands when hot, best to drain some out unless there is loads of room in the expansion tank.

The Edge · 20 Sep 2008 at 18:40

It should just blow any excess out through the breather.

box · 20 Sep 2008 at 19:26

Syphoned the excess out. Sorted.

Thanks

Finglonga · 20 Sep 2008 at 22:47

The Edge said:
It should just blow any excess out through the breather.

It's a pressurised unit on modern cars so no breather until a hose goes bang. . . . .

BigglesPiP · 20 Sep 2008 at 22:49

Finglonga said:
It's a pressurised unit on modern cars so no breather until a hose goes bang. . . . .

The breather is via pressure relief in the cap.

Finglonga · 20 Sep 2008 at 23:04

BigglesPiP said:
The breather is via pressure relief in the cap.

Not one on my Festa, solid plastic cap and its the only one on the system. Bottom pipe blew leaving big plumes of steam as it was sitting in traffic getting hotter and hotter.

BigglesPiP · 20 Sep 2008 at 23:12

Finglonga said:
Not one on my Festa, solid plastic cap and its the only one on the system. Bottom pipe blew leaving big plumes of steam as it was sitting in traffic getting hotter and hotter.

Yea, but that's a ford.

Defcon5 · 20 Sep 2008 at 23:22

If you topped it up to the max when it was warm, then when its cool it should be below the max? I cant see how you managed to overfill it?

The Edge · 21 Sep 2008 at 07:46

Finglonga said:
It's a pressurised unit on modern cars so no breather until a hose goes bang. . . . .

All three of the cars we've had that i've worked on have :confused:

Can only speak as you find

box · 21 Sep 2008 at 10:44

Defcon5 said:
If you topped it up to the max when it was warm, then when its cool it should be below the max? I cant see how you managed to overfill it?

Neither can I to be honest! All I know is, I filled it up to between MIN and MAX when it was warm, and after cooling down the level has risen.

Not that I have a clue what I'm talking about, but could it be the case that since the coolant was warm when filling, some was being circulated around the radiator, hence the apparent low coolant level?

Dogbreath · 21 Sep 2008 at 12:44

Finglonga said:
It's a pressurised unit on modern cars so no breather until a hose goes bang. . . . .

You mean it has a pressurised cooling system like virtualy all cars since the 1940's? How amazing.

The cooling system will have some form of pressure release valve, even if it's not obvious, manufacturers don't rely on hoses bursting to relieve excess coolant pressure.