Radiator Water level Checking

Checking the water level in your cars radiator is possibly the second most important maintenance check, only engine oil is more critical to reliability and seizure prevention. With modern cars checking your radiator fluid level is quick and easy although never attempt this when the engine is hot as the cars radiator system is pressurized and the escaping water vapour can scald. To check the water level you will need to locate the header tank or expansion tank, these can be made from metal or plastic and will have a three small pipes running from it, one pipe will go to the radiator, another will be a return pipe from the engine and a final one is an overflow pipe which will be smaller in diameter to the other two. 

The expansion tank will be located slightly higher than the top of the radiator, sitting on top of this small tank will be a cap, press down slightly and unscrew this cap and release your downward pressure and lift off. Peer inside and you will notice, or should rather, a coloured liquid, now there will be usually two marks that relate to the upper and lower levels, these marks will either be on the outside or inside of the expansion tank. If the level is slightly down simply add clean water to bring the level up, if the level is very low or the tank is dry then you will need to add a mixture of antifreeze and water, antifreeze raises the waters freezing point for winter use but also acts as a summer coolant and all year round rust inhibitor to protect the engines internal waterways from rusting and clogging.

Adding Antifreeze

A word of caution before adding antifreeze to your cars radiator, not all antifreeze or cars are the same. Basically there are two types of antifreeze available Organic (OAT) and inorganic (IAT) IAT should be drained completely and changed every two years. OAT which is often referred to as long life or advanced antifreeze should be replaced every five years. NEVER MIX different types of antifreeze, the results can have serious effects on your engine as the mixture turns to gel within your engines waterways. As a general rule most cars manufactured after 2001 should be using long life antifreeze (OAT) but if you are unsure then drain the system completely and replace the lot. Many manufacturers add their own dye to antifreeze which often adds to the confusion further.

If your replacing the entire contents of your cars cooling system then refill with a mix of 50/50 water/antifreeze this will give maximum protection down to -36c don’t be tempted to mix any stronger than this as the freezing point starts to rise again if more than 50% antifreeze is added.

Remember if in any doubt as the exact type of antifreeze currently in your cars cooling system then drain and replace with all an all new mixture, after all unless you have anything recorded within the cars service history you will have little chance of knowing how old the current antifreeze is anyway.

Provisional Marmalade Learner Driver Insurance  provides cover for learner drivers whilst practicing in a car owned by someone else. Any claim arising from the policy does not affect the car owner’s policy or their no claims discount.