No coolant in overflow tank when hot.

[hardcore302]

Today I was in the Advance parking lot replacing my cabin filter and figured I would check some fluid levels. I noticed that there was no coolant in the over flow (degas) bottle. The car was at operating temperature.
I am not overheating and the cap is not spitting coolant. There are no leaks. I would have never known except for a visual inspection, as the car is running perfect. I have not had a chance to look at the level when cold. I will check tonight after work.

Is this normal>?

Thanks!

 

[The_Jeff]

You do evaporate a little bit as time goes on.

Is this a pressurized overflow/surge or traditional siphon-hose bottle?

In the old days radiators typically had air space but the engine was full of coolant via the water pump pressure. Then the Vega overheated all the time and brought us what we have today.

 

[demarpaint]

Top it up when its is cold, make sure the radiator is full, then top up the recovery tank to the full cold mark. Keep an eye on it. It takes a very long time for the level to drop once its full and properly bled.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

The diff between my bottle empty and cold line is just 2 cups. It is maybe 2 more cups to full hot. You may have spit some out the waterpump weep hole (happens in sub-freezing weather and then lost some to evap.

I this the Stang or the Vue?

 

[hardcore302]

The Mustang. Thanks!

 

[901Memphis]

Wait till its cold, and top up radiator with 50/50 mix. Make sure to give it time to fill through the radiator a couple minutes. Once that's topped up you can top up the overflow tank. I would probably add a little extra to the overflow if it has space. You can go to the Hot mark even cold if you have room in the tank, the lines aren't exact just reference. The extra in the tank may come down over time.

I always run a little extra in my tank, whether pressurized or just a overflow.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: hardcore302
The Mustang. Thanks!

With a name like yours, you should know that Fords like to slowly deplete the overflow tank just as surely as they like to have noisy power steering pumps.

 

[hardcore302]

The radiator has no cap. The only access is the overflow.

It was cold and empty. Guess I'll fill her up tomorrow. Thanks for all the help!

 

[Drew99GT]

Fill it up exactly to the cold mark and keep an eye on it.

It seems to be somewhat normal for the cooling system level to drop as the season goes from summer to fall and then especially to winter, I guess from contraction. In my Toyota, it will drop about an 1/8 of an inch when we get very cold weather, but as soon as summer rolls around, the level is right back to normal.

 

[hardcore302]

I topped it up. I will keep an eye on it. Thanks!