Technical Engine coolant level measurement

[Super Uwe]

Morning all,

Just wondering if any of you can help with the engine coolant level and rough measurements in ml between the min and max level.

The handbook only states that the coolant tank holds 4.5l in total, but when I went to top up the other day I found that I had mixed far too much Paraflu/water 50/50 mix.

Basically I did 100ml Paraflu + 100ml water as the gauge was just below halfway between Min/Max. But that was way too much and I'd probably used up less than half of my mix before it was full!

P.S. I am aware that getting the "right" calculation is going to save me about 50p so this is just for me being a sad old loser really! However it is nevertheless bugging me...

 

[306maxi]

Morning all,

Just wondering if any of you can help with the engine coolant level and rough measurements in ml between the min and max level.

The handbook only states that the coolant tank holds 4.5l in total, but when I went to top up the other day I found that I had mixed far too much Paraflu/water 50/50 mix.

Basically I did 100ml Paraflu + 100ml water as the gauge was just below halfway between Min/Max. But that was way too much and I'd probably used up less than half of my mix before it was full!

P.S. I am aware that getting the "right" calculation is going to save me about 50p so this is just for me being a sad old loser really! However it is nevertheless bugging me...

You've overfilled your coolant, it only needs to be above the min mark when cold because when the coolant heats up it expands like all good matter does.

 

[Super Uwe]

You've overfilled your coolant, it only needs to be above the min mark when cold because when the coolant heats up it expands like all good matter does.

Funny you should mention that as I'd noticed the level was higher when checking under the bonnet 5min after a long journey a while back.

Agree with what you're saying here though and will bear in mind in future, however the manual doesn't state that. On p143 it says to check the level when the engine is cold (and for me it was below halfway then) and then top up to the MAX level if it's low. Admittedly it wasn't near MIN but nevertheless why would you not top up to MAX if it says so in the book?

So slightly dud advice in the manual then!

 

[306maxi]

Funny you should mention that as I'd noticed the level was higher when checking under the bonnet 5min after a long journey a while back.

Agree with what you're saying here though and will bear in mind in future, however the manual doesn't state that. On p143 it says to check the level when the engine is cold (and for me it was below halfway then) and then top up to the MAX level if it's low. Admittedly it wasn't near MIN but nevertheless why would you not top up to MAX if it says so in the book?

So slightly dud advice in the manual then!

I don't remember it saying that tbh. Coolant shouldn't need topping up on a new car and if it does it indicates a fault.

 

[Super Uwe]

I don't remember it saying that tbh. Coolant shouldn't need topping up on a new car and if it does it indicates a fault.

OK then, well that's odd. Maybe you have a different version of the manual? I just re-read p143 and that's what it says.

Anyway, ta for the advice - I shall keep a close eye on it over the next couple of weeks as going to add about 1000 miles before then. Will pop the Paraflu in the boot and if there's a big drop in coolant levels I'll have a word with the garage...

 

[grimwau]

As long as it was in between min and max as you state then you actually didn't need to add any at all.

As 306maxi says the level will rise in the header tank as the water gets hotter and as long as it is not beneath the minimum mark when it is stone cold then it will remain below the max mark when up to temperature. You now need to drain off the excess or else the cooling system will be over pressurised when it gets hot.

The only cars that I recall that had a coolant loss problem were early 1.2 models and that was due to a faulty thermostat housing IIRC.

Anyway, an easy mistake to make and kudos to you for coming on here to ask for help rather than leaving it that way. At least it shows you are one of those that does check under the bonnet.

 

[RobW]

Morning all,

Just wondering if any of you can help with the engine coolant level and rough measurements in ml between the min and max level.

The handbook only states that the coolant tank holds 4.5l in total, but when I went to top up the other day I found that I had mixed far too much Paraflu/water 50/50 mix.

Basically I did 100ml Paraflu + 100ml water as the gauge was just below halfway between Min/Max. But that was way too much and I'd probably used up less than half of my mix before it was full!

P.S. I am aware that getting the "right" calculation is going to save me about 50p so this is just for me being a sad old loser really! However it is nevertheless bugging me...

coolant system holds 4.5litres

top up if below min - simple

 

[jnoiles]

You've overfilled your coolant, it only needs to be above the min mark when cold because when the coolant heats up it expands like all good matter does.

Last week at the Nurburgring a certain Panda 100hp had his coolant reservoir boiling and bubbling like a kettle.

Somewhere there's a video of it.....

 

[Super Uwe]

As long as it was in between min and max as you state then you actually didn't need to add any at all.

As 306maxi says the level will rise in the header tank as the water gets hotter and as long as it is not beneath the minimum mark when it is stone cold then it will remain below the max mark when up to temperature. You now need to drain off the excess or else the cooling system will be over pressurised when it gets hot.

The only cars that I recall that had a coolant loss problem were early 1.2 models and that was due to a faulty thermostat housing IIRC.

Anyway, an easy mistake to make and kudos to you for coming on here to ask for help rather than leaving it that way. At least it shows you are one of those that does check under the bonnet.

Thanks a lot for that! Well I've certainly taken on board all of the comments on here so that's great.

Yeah I try to keep tabs on the various levels every now and then, better to do so than not at all I guess.

Strange though that the manual is not specific about this; usually it has a warning box if there's important info to bear in mind, and there just isn't anything to say that filling to MAX when cold is too much. In fact that's what it says to do!

Lost in translation perhaps....

 

[RobinPJ]

Common sense would say that the "max" level is in fact the "max when cold" level, not the "max when hot"/"absolute max" level, which would be higher, but not marked (to avoid people filling to that level when the car is cold and therefore overfilling).

However, we are talking about Italian cars here so common sense may not have that big a part to play...

 

[Super Uwe]

Common sense would say that the "max" level is in fact the "max when cold" level, not the "max when hot"/"absolute max" level, which would be higher, but not marked (to avoid people filling to that level when the car is cold and therefore overfilling).

However, we are talking about Italian cars here so common sense may not have that big a part to play...

Yep, fair point!

 

[306maxi]

Common sense would say that the "max" level is in fact the "max when cold" level, not the "max when hot"/"absolute max" level, which would be higher, but not marked (to avoid people filling to that level when the car is cold and therefore overfilling).

However, we are talking about Italian cars here so common sense may not have that big a part to play...

Well I'm sorry but that's just not the case. Most people with even just a fairly basic knowledge of mechanics (I class myself in this group) know that there's a cold line and a hot line on a coolant tank. Some cars say cold and some say hot, some say min and some say max.

If in doubt, ASK!

 

[RobinPJ]

If in doubt, ASK!

What, you mean, like, take advice?

 

[306maxi]

What, you mean, like, take advice?

Yeah, like to let a garage sort a problem before bringing in the thermonuclear device to sort the problem out

 

[RobW]

engine coolant fig. 1-2-3-4
the coolant level must be checked when
the engine is cold and must be between
the min and max lines on the vessel.
If the level is low, pour slowly a mixture
of 50% distilled water and 50% parafluup
of the petronas lubricants
through the filler neck c until the level
reaches max.
A 50-50 mixture of parafluup and distilled
water gives freeze protection to
–35°c.
When the vehicle is used under particularly
harsh climate conditions, we recommend
using a 60-40 mixture of parafluup
and demineralised water.

rtfm

 

[Super Uwe]

rtfm

Well copied sir!

Anyway, think this proves my point that the manual is not totally clear on the matter. I accept that people will have different levels of mechanical knowledge and those who are experienced would probably ignore this bit though.

 

[RobW]

Well copied sir!

Anyway, think this proves my point that the manual is not totally clear on the matter. I accept that people will have different levels of mechanical knowledge and those who are experienced would probably ignore this bit though.

i think the manual is very clear and this thread proves people don't read it as they think they know better

 

[grimwau]

i think the manual is very clear and this thread proves people don't read it as they think they know better

engine coolant fig. 1-2-3-4
the coolant level must be checked when
the engine is cold and must be between
the min and max lines on the vessel.
If the level is low, pour slowly a mixture
of 50% distilled water and 50% parafluup
of the petronas lubricants
through the filler neck c until the level
reaches max.
A 50-50 mixture of parafluup and distilled
water gives freeze protection to
–35°c.
When the vehicle is used under particularly
harsh climate conditions, we recommend
using a 60-40 mixture of parafluup
and demineralised water.

Come on Rob, we all make mistakes and the question had been answered already with the OP already suffering some embarrassment. I think the bold highlighted text above proves that the manual can be confusing sometimes, usually due to the translation effect.

That said, the advice to read the manual is always sound and if you don't have it to hand they are available to either peruse or download on this site.

 

[faster130]

Well I'm sorry but that's just not the case. Most people with even just a fairly basic knowledge of mechanics (I class myself in this group) know that there's a cold line and a hot line on a coolant tank. Some cars say cold and some say hot, some say min and some say max.

If in doubt, ASK!

I'm pretty certain there are never hot and cold lines on a coolant tank - i've never seen any.

If there were a hot line this would give people a reason to attempt to check it and top up when the engine is hot.

There would be badly scolded people everywhere. The lawyers would have a field day.

Other fluids yes, but not coolant.

 

[306maxi]

I'm pretty certain there are never hot and cold lines on a coolant tank - i've never seen any.

If there were a hot line this would give people a reason to attempt to check it and top up when the engine is hot.

There would be badly scolded people everywhere. The lawyers would have a field day.

Other fluids yes, but not coolant.

That's why coolant tanks are translucent so you can see through the side to check the level without opening them up and scalding yourself.....