Topping off coolant

[Arcadeus]

Hey all, I’ve got a small coolant leak and can’t get it fixed for a week. I’ve never had to top off fluid. How do you know how much and where do you put it? The expansion tank?

 

[John Z]

On my 300tdi I just put it in the expansion tank. As for fill level, I think it's about half the tank along the seam. I think if you look I somehow should see a plastic post or something that you wanna just go over?

 

[evilfij]

On a V8, I add to the post thing next to the intake (second choice is the radiator). You can converted those plastic plug to brass, right? If you add to the tank, you may get air pockets if the leak is bad enough. That being said, tank is probably fine.

 

[rocky]

Expansion tank is good for most adds. Please don’t use the wrong coolant type like a buddy. He ended up with coolant coagulated into marshmallow size balls…

 

[Angus]

If the coolant level got low enough to drain the heater core, then you could get air trapped in the hose. One thing that helps it to park the car with the front as high as you can to get the header tank above the heater. Otherwise remove the bleed plug and get the air out. I usually add until the level is about an inch below the filler neck. Where is the leak?

 

[Arcadeus]

The leak is in the coolant line going to the turbo… the fittings stripped.

 

[Napalm00]

What kind of turbo do you have that is water cooled? What engine ?