So as the title sounds and I realize that antifreeze doesn't burnoff like oil does. On a 1000 mile trip in 98 degree temps and humidity off the charts is it normal for a small amount if Coolant to evaporate? I had the level like a centimeter above the full line and had seem it at that level for several weeks before the trip. After I arrived, I check the level again while cold which is when I check it and it was right on the full line instead of slightly above it.
Antifreeze Burnoff?
- Thread starter Wardonkey
- Start date
Most likely normal, don't top it off and check if it still keeps dropping. Have you checked for leaks and consider buying a head gasket leak tester that uses a chemical?
I would say it is normal for evaporation to occur, but if I were you, get a block tester just to be sure.
Sometimes small head gasket / internal consumption leaks can surface after long road trips ... the engine gets plenty hot and runs under load stress for a few hours...that is when small stress leaks can surface.
It is somewhat more common in older; stressed systems.my old camry consumed a tiny bit during summer road trips. (1 cup ~800 miles or so)
It is somewhat more common in older; stressed systems.my old camry consumed a tiny bit during summer road trips. (1 cup ~800 miles or so)
The 2017. You have the 3.6L v6 pentastar engine?
Great...ok. I used to service the same engine on a jeep. Lol I could never keep the coolant on that tank near the F. It always leveled off further towards the L mark no matter how much 'topping off'.
in my opinion: the amount of consumption you are concerned about is negligible.
however,
If you are running on factory fill coolant still, it may be time to start replacing . ~5 years.
in my opinion: the amount of consumption you are concerned about is negligible.
however,
If you are running on factory fill coolant still, it may be time to start replacing . ~5 years.
Oh, check near and below water pump for leak/weep from the water pump. It is kind of 'in there'. But I have seen the 3.6 start leaking big time from that plastic bit with the pump.
need more info here. is this a brand new car? I've seen a few ounces disappear randomly in the first month of a new car. Have you recently drained and filled the system? It can take a while before the last air bubble works its way out.
Simple answer to the question is: NO. It not normal to lose a noticable amount of coolant period. If its a one time drop of a few ounces don't lose sleep. If it keep losing you got a leak.
Only 2 places to go, into the engine or onto the engine bay/floor.
On my fathers camry i swore it wasn't normal, dealer said it was. a few ounces 'evaporating' every now and then is ok the dealers said.
I thought i saw some dry white powder residue around the reservoir tank. I told my dad to just try replacing the radiator cap, and the cap to reservoir because it has a valve and long hose on it. I figured there was some kind of pinhole leak there, or a bad cap regulating pressure.
Dealer runs a whole 'pressure test' says they found nothing, and its all normal, losing a few ounces every month or so. i said, it wasn't. Then he finally replaced the dam radiator and reservoir caps with new toyota parts. The fluid stabilized and didn't lose a drop after.
An overlooked suspect is a bad radiator cap, the cap is actually a valve that needs to regulate to a certain pressure.
You're looking for a trend. Radiator caps release pressure when the system is hot and expands, then sometimes even allows for a minor vacuum when it cools. sometimes as they age, they no longer allow a vacuum, so the cold level drops. I watch the hot running level, i mark mine and after a long drive i look at it while its idling. If the hot level keeps droping, you have fluid loss.
Even when the rad fan cycles on and off i've seen it move slightly on some cars. You are also looking for the classic bubbles in the reservoir tank.
Initial cold start bubles could mean one of the hoses to between the radiator and reservoir is bad, or on a car with the pressure cap on on the rad it could be the cap again.
Bubbles the keep happening during a drive cycle = head leak almost always.
You can test the fluid for combustion, and you can UOA for antifreeze. Those are early warning test. You can have a head leak at different heat/load parts of the cycle so a cylinder leak test (compression), or with chemicals donesn't always catch it till a head leak progresses and gets bad..
yeah
My ford 2 litre ate about one cm out of the pressurised remote reservoir; I was concerned, but it stabilised at that loss and later I added that ~300ml back with distilled H2O... My Wife's new Subaru2.5 litre just ate about 500 ml out of the unpressurised overflow one trip. Some The water component of the coolant in the "open' tank will evaporate, I would guess.
almost empty Subaru overflow tank
almost empty Subaru overflow tank