98 Starlet Coolant question

long_b · 10-10-2013 7:25pm #1

Can anyone tell me if the white container in the picture should contain coolant ?
Or is it just an overflow ?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/coktot56kvm16wg/2013-10-10%2020.14.30.jpg

Toyotafanboi · 10-10-2013 7:28pm

it should be full. you can see the full mark written on it around half way up in the photo.

Renegade Mechanic · 10-10-2013 7:31pm

It should. Its an expansion tank so it should be about half full (or at the lines, if visible) when cool. This allows for some coolant to expant into it when it heats up. When it cools down, it draws it back in. If the level is beneath the pipe extending into the bottle (or indeed, the pipe has broken as can sometimes be the case), itll draw air when it cools. Not ideal. No coolant at all suggest you may have a leak. Open the cap on the radiator(when cold!) and if there isnt coolant at the very top of it then you may have a leak.

long_b · 10-10-2013 7:33pm

Would this be the right stuff for it ?

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_176849_langId_-1_categoryId_229903#tab4

Renegade Mechanic · 10-10-2013 7:38pm

Looks good, might as well let all the old stuff out and mix that 1 part coolant, 2 parts water and it should be fine. To be safe, Id fill the system with water and run it for a few days just to make sure its not leaking.

long_b · 10-10-2013 7:40pm

There's a small amount of liquid in the bottom of it so it's not leaking.
Can I just mix the new stuff and add it in ?

mgbgt1978 · 10-10-2013 7:40pm

"Would this be the right stuff for it ?"
It would.....but you could just go your local motor factors and pay 1/2 the price for the same thing (and get much more informed advice while you're there).
Call in during the mid afternoon. They should be quieter then and will possibly come out and show you how to top it up properly.

..and yes you can just top it up with fresh stuff. As long as it hasn't completely emptied the reservoir you should be fine.

Renegade Mechanic · 10-10-2013 7:43pm

long_b wrote: »

There's a small amount of liquid in the bottom of it so it's not leaking.
Can I just mix the new stuff and add it in ?

As above, would be a good bet. As long as whats in the bottle is still above the lowest point of the pick up pipe then your all good.

EDIT: When youre there just get them to look around the radiator. Hard to tell on pic but bluey green crystalline deposits usually signal future problems.

Chris_Heilong · 10-10-2013 7:45pm

Make sure to use distilled water, as normal water can rust you radiator.

98 Starlet Coolant question

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