Coolant Loss 2009 Accent

[HyundaiGuy]

Hi All,

I had a thread about this sometime back that I was going to bump/update but it seems to have disappeared.

Last winter when the missing post went up, my car had approximately 23,000 miles on it. Checking the fluids one morning, I noticed the coolant in the overflow tank was down to the add mark, so I topped it up.

At 30,000 miles, the dealer performed the scheduled maintenance- poorly. The factory fill coolant could have stayed in until 60,000 miles or 5 years, with changes every 2 years/24,000 miles thereafter but they changed it early. They also didn't change the spark plugs as specified by Hyundai at 30,000 stating the plugs are fine because they are platinum plugs from the factory. They aren't- they are basic copper Champions.

I was reviewing service receipts and comparing to the owners manual when I caught this. Yesterday, at 35769 miles while replacing the plugs I noticed the coolant was halfway between full and add in the overflow tank so I topped it up.

I realize there could have been air that purged in the lines causing the coolant to drop. I have looked at the tank numerous times since the service and it was full. Weather here has been brutally hot (100 degrees) and the coolant level suddenly dropped as it did last winter when it was cold (20 degrees.) Engine oil looks perfect- changed at 33750 miles.

Is this anything to be concerned about? Should I get a UOA? I can't tell anything about engine temperature because the Accent only has a "you are screwed" idiot light- no gauge. I am wondering if this is early warning of a head gasket failure.

Thoughts?

 

[FL_Rob]

No, I wouldn't worry .Thats how many onces of fluid in what period of time ,did you say.I'm trying to visualize.
editk a top-up @23k ..a replacement @30k.. top-up@35k but then it was at the halfway mark.This really sounds like evaporation.

 

[HyundaiGuy]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
No, I wouldn't worry .Thats how many onces of fluid in what period of time ,did you say.I'm trying to visualize.


Maybe 8 ounces in 3 months and 5940 miles since the 30,000 mile service.

 

[The_Eric]

For now, not much to worry about. Top it off and monitor the level. Pop the radiator cap off and top off as needed too.

 

[HyundaiGuy]

OK thanks. I hadn't considered removing the radiator cap and topping up there as well. I figured the radiator was full and the overflow tank was low. It would have only registered to me to pop the radiator cap if the overflow tank was empty.

 

[Drew99GT]

8 ounces in 3 months/5,000 miles IMO is excessive even in extreme heat. That's about what our Impala was losing due to bad head gaskets. If you hadn't topped it off at all, your overflow tank would likely be dry. I'd keep an eye on it for sure. Consider doing a UOA.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Hi. I would take off the rad cap with engine COLD, note level, start the car and let idle till the T-stat opens, then note level in the rad. You should see coolant moving and the rad level will change. Shut car off. Note level and top off to the top of the rad cap neck. Immediately replace cap with engine hot. Note level in overflow. Insure level is between full and add. Let engine cool. Note level in overflow and adjust to full cold line, if below add line. This should stabilise the coolant level. I like to put 75/25 non pre-diluted coolant to water ratio in the overflow as this might minimise evaporation out of the overflow. HTH

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Hi. I would take off the rad cap with engine COLD, note level, start the car and let idle till the T-stat opens, then note level in the rad.


That's a great way to end up with scolding hot coolant blowing out everywhere, all over the engine compartment, and all over the ground.

If the cap is functioning properly, the coolant level will be full in the radiator, even if it's dropping in the overflow.

 

[HyundaiGuy]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Hi. I would take off the rad cap with engine COLD, note level, start the car and let idle till the T-stat opens, then note level in the rad. You should see coolant moving and the rad level will change. Shut car off. Note level and top off to the top of the rad cap neck. Immediately replace cap with engine hot. Note level in overflow. Insure level is between full and add. Let engine cool. Note level in overflow and adjust to full cold line, if below add line. This should stabilise the coolant level. I like to put 75/25 non pre-diluted coolant to water ratio in the overflow as this might minimise evaporation out of the overflow. HTH

I did as you described. The engine was cold as the car hasn't been driven since yesterday. The coolant in the radiator did not drop as expected, but the level in the overflow tank went up a bit above the full mark. I also observed some shiny metallic looking flakes in the coolant, which I doubt my camera has the resolution to show. Now I am really wondering.

I am waiting for the engine to cool to recheck.

 

[HyundaiGuy]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Hi. I would take off the rad cap with engine COLD, note level, start the car and let idle till the T-stat opens, then note level in the rad.


That's a great way to end up with scolding hot coolant blowing out everywhere, all over the engine compartment, and all over the ground.

If the cap is functioning properly, the coolant level will be full in the radiator, even if it's dropping in the overflow.


That's what I thought, and why I never removed the radiator cap.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Scalding coolant everywhere? ever had an issue - unless there was air in the system that didnt belong there.

 

[sciphi]

Flakes in the coolant and coolant loss? Too bad the water pump isn't visible easily, as I bet that's what's losing the coolant. It should be under the timing belt cover, which is a bugger to remove.

If you can, look on the passenger side of the car underneath the motor. If you have dried coolant down there, it's your culprit, and the dealer should replace the water pump and timing belt.

 

[HyundaiGuy]

To bring everyone up to speed:

As Scipi suggested, I got on my back and looked up from underneath. I couldn't see anything because there is a guard/shield underneath the car.

I did do as ARCOGraphite suggested and removed the radiator cap and let everything warm up. When I did that, the coolant level in the overflow tank actually raised above the full mark. Then I got to thinking about it- the cooling system service was serviced in May of this year and the heater hasn't been been needed. If the service guy didn't turn the heat on, there was a possibility the heater core was empty. I drove the car for 40 miles (commute to work) then turned the heater on full blast for the last 1/2 mile. The next time the car was cold, I checked the coolant level, and it was exactly on the full mark.

It hasn't moved at all for the past 650 miles. If the HG is starting to leak it is minor, and I doubt Hyundai will go anything about it (under warranty.) Should I put it on my next service ticket anyway (in another 3 weeks-1200 miles) when I take it in for a oil change? I was hoping there is some kind of pressure test they could perform that would indicate a problem early on. Or just do a UOA?

 

[HyundaiGuy]

Looked at her Accent yesterday-changed oil/filter, air filter, cabin air filter and gave it a wash.

Sure enough, the coolant overflow tank on her car was low, by about 8 ounces. This car was also topped up last winter as well.

I'm starting to think it is nature of the beast.

 

[sciphi]

I'd do a UOA if you haven't done so already. Then if your engine blows up, there's proof on paper that coolant was in the oil.

 

[HyundaiGuy]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
I'd do a UOA if you haven't done so already. Then if your engine blows up, there's proof on paper that coolant was in the oil.


I'm going to. I just think it is interesting that we have the same issue with both cars- not just mine.