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Mechanical Maintenance (Oil, Fluids, Break-In, Servicing) Everything related to the mechanical maintenance of the FR-S and BRZ |
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12-13-2020, 01:08 AM | #1 |
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coolant question
Hi guys,
a few weeks back, I found out my frs had coolant very low in the reservoir tank (I think it's called over flow reservoir?). Back then I added distilled water (~0.5L, definitely less than a liter) in the overflow reservoir. Now the winter has come, it may fall -30C or under during the season, which hasn't happened yet. The previous owner kept the car parked outside all the time, so the coolant itself seems fine. Anyways, I was worried that adding distilled water would dilute the coolant, but as far as I looked up, if there was any liquid that has evaporated, 'only' water would have been but the actual coolant would have remained, so adding distilled water wouldn't hurt? I thought of checking out the coolant itself with the squeeze up bottle thingy with a dial in the middle (the thing that tells you the freezing point lol don't know the proper name for it), but I'm not sure where I can stick the tube and suck up the coolant in the first place. I wonder what you guys think. Thanks. |
12-13-2020, 01:13 AM | #2 |
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Get it out of the overflow bottle and put it back afterwards if you`re not sure
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12-13-2020, 11:45 AM | #3 |
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get a bottle of super blue to keep on hand, toss some in to the right fill line, and go with it.
https://smile.amazon.com/Genuine-Sub...7877850&sr=8-1 the water is going to evaporate over time from hot/cold cycles, as it's not an entirely closed system, so just keep it topped up, and it'll be fine.
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12-13-2020, 02:38 PM | #4 |
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Squeeze bottle coolant tester thingy is a good tool. If you check it from the radiator cap, make sure the check valve on the cap is nice and clean before you reinstall it. 99.5% of the "I'm slowly losing coolant" issues are due to a leaky check valve.
After a few heat cycles, fluid in the reservoir is pretty much the same as what's in the system.
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12-13-2020, 09:30 PM | #5 |
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Just drive it, you'll be fine.
And like soundman said, if it goes low again, top off with proper antifreeze. |
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12-14-2020, 12:19 AM | #6 |
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i used to buy the non-diluted stuff so i didn't need to pay for half-water, but after realizing my captain-n-cokes that ought to be around 50/50 are really about 90/10, i figured i'm not enough of a mixologist to do a proper job, so i ought to let someone else handle the mixture!
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12-14-2020, 12:24 AM | #7 |
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Hydrometer.
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12-14-2020, 07:09 PM | #8 |
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It'll usually take a few heat cycles for whatever is in the coolant overflow to mix with the rest of the system. Considering that you put in distilled water a few weeks ago, I'm assuming it's been enough time to not worry about it.
However, since you have a hydrometer on hand, just stick it into the overflow tank and take a reading. |
12-15-2020, 12:27 AM | #9 |
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Thanks for the feedback people.
Maybe what I wrote earlier wasn't so detailed. I put in distilled water like 2 months ago, so no doubt that it's been all mixed up with the rest of coolant. Albeit small amount (~0.5L), my main concern was the increase in the freezing point of the coolant since I'm living in Alberta, Canada where it drops below -30C from time to time, which hasn't happened yet thankfully. I don't have a hydrometer with me yet but will buy it at the end of the week and see if I can pull out some of the coolant to test out. IN CASE I HAPPENED TO FIND THE FREEZING POINT IS HIGHER THAN WHAT I WANT, is there a third party undiluted antifreeze that I can mix to lower the freezing point? From everything I read from this forum and other websites, they all recommend the OEM coolant, which is right, but it protects as low as -37C, which seems like a borderline to me.. Again, thanks for the comments people! |
12-15-2020, 03:28 AM | #10 |
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If you see near -40 I have no Idea I know a higher concentration of coolant lowers the freezing point but reduces the systems efficiency. Scary to be honest
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12-15-2020, 07:54 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
In you case I would go to the dealership and get a flush and fill. It's cheap and can't hurt. I've lived in AB and -40C is no joke. You must use a block heater, no? |
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12-15-2020, 10:34 AM | #12 |
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Yup, I have a block heater. On the other hand, I might be just overthinking, considering I've been ok with other cars in the past. I'll try the hydrometer to see how the antifreeze is in the coolant and see if I need to flush, which I doubt I need to because it's still a low mileage car (~60000km). I looked up the coolant exchange process, and it seems doable. I'll see how it goes.
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12-18-2020, 09:19 AM | #13 | |
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Quote:
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12-18-2020, 04:04 PM | #14 |
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Most anyone is capable of doing a flush. Most wouldn't want to do it at -20C
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