Hi all

I have just checked my coolant level on the spout where the battery is located, and there is nothing in there

I checked when the car was hot, so I am a tad confused as to weather or not I should top it up? I assume I can't use just water, so should I pop to Halfords and get some premix coolant and top it up?

I have checked the oil and filler cap and everything is ok that end, oil level is spot on too

any ideas?

ps the car isn't overheating

 

Best chek when the car is cold. Check both the header tank which should be full to the top and the expansion tank which has min/max marks on it.
Coolant! Pre mix is expensive. Youd be better off buying concentrate and mixing yourself

 

Its still hot at the mo so will wait until it cools down, but I have just noticed that the top radiator hose is hot and the bottom one is cold?

 

That's pretty normal, guy. If it wasn't, the rad wouldn't be doing it's work.

Check level at the header tank on top of the engine.

 

Ah ok I thought I may have had an air block or something. Cheers

 

Ok just checked the header and its quite empty. There is some in there but not a lot?

 

How long since you last checked it. fill it and look for leaks. If nothing visable then keep your eye on the level

 

keep an eye on that. Could be stuck thermostat

 

It was checked and topped up by Slowboy racing over a month ago. So I think maybe I have a leak. Im hoping its not the head gasket tho. Gonna walk to Halfords and get some coolant and top it up. Do I need to drain what's in there?

 

No, but if you can see coolant in it, fill SLOWLY, if you can't, remove the rear hose and stuff a funnel down it, fill SLOWLY from there, then re-attach hose and top up.

If it goes down again, get a sniff test done.

 

ok many thanks for your help. Got another issue now - oil smells of fuel! ... looks like car will be going in for some expensive repairs...I've set aside £4k if needed for rebuild tho