The coolant also goes by antifreeze and is usually added to a vehicle’s cooling system. The system then circulates the fluid through the engine to prevent overheating. Hence, it is clear that coolant plays a major role in any automobile. There is a proper procedure to add coolant to your car.
Once you have added the coolant, you can run the engine. Running the engine is important since without doing so, the gases will expand at a greater rate than the liquid when your engine gets hot. Therefore, you can drive immediately after adding coolant to your car. This is also advisable as it allows the coolant to sufficiently circulate through the system.
This article answers most of the questions surrounding the coolant, when, and how to add it to your vehicle.
How Long After Adding Coolant Can I Drive?
One of the important maintenance checks that you need to perform for your car on a regular basis is ensuring that it has adequate coolant at all times. The coolant is an invaluable addition to the engine as it works to prevent overheating.
Once you have added the coolant, you can drive your car around for some time. This is after you have checked for any leaks. Driving the car will help the coolant run through the engine.
How Long Should I Wait Before Adding Coolant to My Car?
How long you should wait before you can add the coolant will depend on how long you have been driving and your average speed.
Generally, after opening the hood, you are advised to wait for not less than 15 minutes. This is to allow the hood, engine, and leaking coolant to cool. Ideally, you should wait for 30 minutes as this is the amount of time that it takes an overheated engine to cool down enough for you to inspect it under normal conditions.
But if you do not have the luxury of time, you can wait until the radiator is cool enough to touch. This is more of a safety feature since opening the radiator cap immediately may cause steam and hot coolant to spray out and cause serious burns.
How Do I Know if My Car Needs Coolant?
It is advisable that you check the level of your coolant at least once a month for a car in good condition. However, if you notice the temperature gauge is creeping up, you need to check the coolant levels more often. While doing so, ensure that you do not frequently add the coolant as this is likely to cause a leak in the system that will need fixing.
Another way to know when your car needs coolant is usually evidenced by the presence of leaks. You can check for any wetness around the hoses or pooled fluid on the ground below the vehicle. You can also diagnose a leak by reduced coolant levels, diminished engine performance, and steam from underneath your hood.
Another sign that your car gives you to indicate more coolant is needed is a grinding noise from under the hood. This would theoretically mean that there is increased friction due to minimal lubrication of the moving parts. The coolant comes in play here.
What to Do After Putting Coolant in the Car
The first step to take after adding coolant is to turn on your engine and check for leaks. If there are no leaks, you can now drive the car for a considerable period of time to allow the coolant to sufficiently run through the system. Once you are satisfied, you can check the radiator for the coolant level and add more if need be.
Can I Drive With a Low Coolant Level?
It is not advised to drive your car with low coolant levels. Your car is likely to start overheating and you will have steam coming from underneath the hood. Besides that, low coolant levels are likely to cause grinding noises for the hood. This is not only a nuisance but could potentially damage the engine.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
There are some precautions that you need to take when adding coolant to your car. If this task is not properly performed, it could lead to irreparable damage to the engine. Ensure that you check your coolant levels as frequently as recommended and look out for any leaks.
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