Coolant Loss

[jmildoc]

I am not sure if I lost coolant or just a sensor is acting funny. Wife left for the store then called and said the message center said low coolant... I told her to come back and I put about a cup of coolant in and the light went out, it didnt even seem low. What could this be? Should I do a drain and fill to be safe or what?

Any help is appreciated....

 

[Modded]

It was probably low if it turned off after filling.
Did you see the level below the mark on the tank?

 

[jmildoc]

the tank was kind of dirty. is a cup low, LOW? how could i clean that tank?

 

[Sepiroth]

Honestly, the coolant system is a closed system. That being typed, anytime you have to add coolant, you're losing it somewhere. Now where, or how long it's been leaking, I dont know.

The only way to find out is to have a coolant system pressure checked perferomed. This should be done on a cold and warm engine. This will most likey find out where your leak is.

It could be such a small leak that this is the first time its been low enough on coolant to let you know.

 

[jmildoc]

so there is no possible way that maybe my cap is worn out and it is evaporating or something. I mean I only added like a cup maybe less!!!

 

[Sepiroth]

Sure, a bad cap is a possible. Chances are that if indeed the cap is bad, you will notice some sort of staining from the coolant leaking and then drying, either on the radiator of de-gas coolant resovoir.

 

[jmildoc]

the reservoir is nasty looking i was thinking of taking it off and cleaning it out

 

[Sepiroth]

If your reservoir is nasty, the rest of your cooling system looks as nasty. Thats why I hate DexCrap.

 

[jmildoc]

well what do i use to clean it out? what can I fill it with?

 

[Rivieraracing]

Try taking the resevoir off and take some simple green and a scrup brush and go to town, something that will get inside the resevoir without damaging it!! Should clean it out pretty good!!

 

[jmildoc]

what kind of antifreeze can I use? Prestone?

 

[OKLAGMCRUISER]

a cup of coolant may or may not be enough to have the level to your hot level in the reservoir. all that a cup may have done for you was put enough liquid in the reservoir to float the switch up to turn it off. you CAN put dexcool back into the truck OR you can do a full system flush and go back to another antifreeze, but you'll have to make sure all of the dexcool is flushed out of the radiator, engine and heater core....ie the entire system.

Pat

 

[Sepiroth]

If you have DexCrap in there now, you might as well stay with that.

If you've done a complete flush, I would go with the G-05 yellow coolant.

 

[jmildoc]

i dont know what is in there now?

 

[OKLAGMCRUISER]

i dont know what is in there now?

what color is it?

 

[jmildoc]

pretty sure it is green... im slightly color blind

 

[Sepiroth]

IIWY, I would just add DexCrap. The way you described the degas bottle, tells me it's Gen1 DexCrap.

 

[tybardy]

its most likely dexcool... thats what GM uses these days, its what i have... i have no problems but i also have no education on the matter... whats the problem with DexCool guys? why is the yellow shit better or is that just personal preferance?

I have a VERY small leak under my throttle body somewhere (not the TB coolant bypass either) and i have to add coolant in about twice a year. I just add 50/50 DexCool.... i wouldnt be apposed to doing a flush and changing fluids if i thought my truck would benifit from it though

 

[Modded]

How will someone flush out all the coolant, is there liekea drain plug?
Just wondering.....

 

[jmildoc]

you can buy a bottle of radiator flush that cleans it out....

My fluid is Yellow.... So I guess I can use any kind. I bought a tester and am going to see if its still good...