Coolant level - how low is too low?

[lairdwd]

Just notices that my wifes accord has no coolant in the overflow resevoir, and the type 2 honda blue that's in there no just barely covers the highest fin (but it is covered). I didn't see any leaks in the engine, and the last time I checked it was maybe 3/4 months ago.

I think it's got a leak somewhere, but I want to hold off on this until summer. Assuming the fluid level has stablized at the highest fin, is this ok for a short time?

I'm probably gonna top it off with Asian Zerex and watch for leaks, but just curious on how low is too low.

 

[dparm]

It's probably fine if the car is just DDed. I certainly wouldn't blast up a canyon road or hit the track with coolant that low.

 

[rslifkin]

If it stays there, it's ok to drive. Just keep a very close eye on it, as it's pretty much at the lower safe limit.

 

[2oldtommy]

Don't risk the possibility of overheating the engine. Buy a jug of type 2 honda blue and top it off. That's cheap insurance.FWIW--Oldtommy

 

[lairdwd]

Originally Posted By: 2oldtommy
Don't risk the possibility of overheating the engine. Buy a jug of type 2 honda blue and top it off. That's cheap insurance.FWIW--Oldtommy


Yeah agree. Although I'm more concerned with rust than overheating. But I refuse to buy the Honda blue for $19 a jug for 50/50 premix. The Zerex Asian is a P-OAT, just like the Honda Blue and costs around $10 a jug. Should be all good.

 

[mechanicx]

Zerox AVF is the next best thing to the OE coolant, should be fine. I would not run the coolant low at all in the radiator or even in the overflow. The coolant will handle it but any air just degrades the coolant faster and promotes corrosion.

When doing a complete change I would go with Ford speciality Green. It is the same formula as type 2 Japanese coolants but from what I've heard (haven't used it yet) it is concentrate and typically works out to the same price as AVF. Only problem with using it as a top up or mixing it with the Honda blue or Toyota pink etc is there would propbably be a dye clash. But you'd probably get some dye clash with the redish AVF in Honda blue anyway.

 

[Beagle2000]

Originally Posted By: dparm
It's probably fine if the car is just DDed. I certainly wouldn't blast up a canyon road or hit the track with coolant that low.


It's a Honda Accord. Seldom seen blasting anywhere.
Clearly the coolant has gone somewhere as a result of a leak. I would want to at least indentify the cause and location.
If you lose all your coolant as a result of a leaking intake you may hydro lock it and lose your engine.
Just my .02 cents.

 

[Astro14]

Blasting, DD, whatever, run the car low on coolant and you get poor heat transfer, uneven cooling as air enters the coolant.

Besides, you don't know how fast it's leaking...so, it looks OK in the rad now, and you check what, in a few days? By then it could be way, way down in the rad. Keep the level good in the reservoir so that you can do a visual check every day until this is fixed, otherwise, it could drop low enough to really damage the engine...

You're going to risk engine damage to save $20 on a jug of coolant?

Really?

 

[scott37300]

First I would see where the leak is from. If it is leaking threw the intake you may have some big problems if you wait till summer. Also keep a close eye on the level so you can tell right away if there is a problem before it causes some major damage.

Do you have any shops around you that give free estimates? Might be worth it to take in and see if they can tell you where it's leaking from so you know if you have a bigger problem or not.

 

[Dan55]

You could do a used oil analysis to see if there is anti freeze contamination in the oil.

 

[ARB1977]

If anything top off with distilled water. Get a used oil analysis done to make sure water isn't getting into the oil. Does the oil look milky at all?