Coolant low - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

RedNWhite · 05-23-2016, 01:54 PM

Hey guys, need some advice. I have a 2013 fr-s, running a little above 27k miles, 3k away from the pricey 30k mile check in at the dealership. My coolant is currently at the low mark, and I often hear and smell the engine cooling down after a 15 minute drive.
I'm not sure if they flush or top up the coolant during the 30k check-in, or if this is normal procedure during toyota/scion oil changes. In addition to asking for advice in this situation, I have a couple of questions:
1. When should I get a coolant flush? Is this included in oil changes or major mile check-ins (30k mile)?
2. Is it okay to add distilled water or a normal coolant to the car?

I use this car as my daily, the car has never been used for racing.

strat61caster · 05-23-2016, 02:39 PM

Accoding to the book in your glovebox the coolant is a 100k mile service interval iirc.
Yes, add distilled water.

It's a tank of water, after 3 years some of it evaporated, not rocket science, top off and it will be fine for another 2+ years.

Edit: And don't fill it to max when cold, the level will fluctuate with temperature, if you put it at max when cold you will over flow when the car is up to temperature, you probably want the level between 50% and low when the car is cold, pop the hood after a drive and see where the coolant is at.

humfrz · 05-23-2016, 03:00 PM

Yep, to add a bit to the above post, if your coolant is a bit low be sure that you add ONLY distilled (or demineralized) water.

If you are compelled to add more anti-freeze (usually not necessary for topping off) be sure to use ONLY the blue Subaru stuff ......

humfrz

mav1178 · 05-23-2016, 03:16 PM

Please read the Owner's Manual and Warranty Booklet for information on coolant.

-alex

finch1750 · 05-23-2016, 03:50 PM

Know issue. No known cause. Buy some coolant and keep topping it off.

Check the Issue/Waranty forum for similar threads

strat61caster · 05-23-2016, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finch1750

No known cause.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporation

humfrz · 05-23-2016, 05:02 PM

^ .............

....... I'm sorry, I just thought that was funny ........

humfrz

RedNWhite · 05-23-2016, 09:20 PM

I should have mentioned I'm a newbie. Thanks for the response and detail for when to top it up. I didn't know it was a known issue, I'm going to top up halfway with distilled water after a drive today.

Tcoat · 05-23-2016, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedNWhite

I should have mentioned I'm a newbie. Thanks for the response and detail for when to top it up. I didn't know it was a known issue, I'm going to top up halfway with distilled water after a drive today.

It isn't really an "issue" at all. It is just the way the system works. That is why there is an overfill reservoir with high and low levels marked on it.

humfrz · 05-23-2016, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedNWhite

I should have mentioned I'm a newbie. Thanks for the response and detail for when to top it up. I didn't know it was a known issue, I'm going to top up halfway with distilled water after a drive today.

And that's OK...........

Don't be hesitant about asking questions, if there is something you don't understand ........... AFTER you read the owners manual.......

We all learned about cars ....... one way or the other.

For example, ask the old timers, when an older car overheated and they had to take the radiator cap off to add water ......... how many times should they have layered an old t-shirt over the radiator cap, before they unscrewed it ....... ??

If they say they "got it right" the first time they did it ...... and DIDN'T get steam hurt ........ there is a good chance they are lying ....... so, pay them no never mind about what they say in the future .......

humfrz

Tcoat · 05-23-2016, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

And that's OK...........

Don't be hesitant about asking questions, if there is something you don't understand ........... AFTER you read the owners manual.......

We all learned about cars ....... one way or the other.

For example, ask the old timers, when an older car overheated and they had to take the radiator cap off to add water ......... how many times should they have layered an old t-shirt over the radiator cap, before they unscrewed it ....... ??

If they say they "got it right" the first time they did it ...... and DIDN'T get steam hurt ........ there is a good chance they are lying ....... so, pay them no never mind about what they say in the future .......

humfrz

Ahhh the good old "it must cooled down enough by now so I can just crack this a bit and.... SONOFABITCHSHITDAMNITALLTOHELL"

86kahl · 05-24-2016, 12:53 AM

Totaled.

mav1178 · 05-24-2016, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedNWhite

I didn't know it was a known issue, I'm going to top up halfway with distilled water after a drive today.

Again: read the manual.

You should fill up to between the "Low" and "Full" levels when your engine is cold, not warm and not after a drive.

-alex

RedNWhite · 05-24-2016, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yep, to add a bit to the above post, if your coolant is a bit low be sure that you add ONLY distilled (or demineralized) water.

If you are compelled to add more anti-freeze (usually not necessary for topping off) be sure to use ONLY the blue Subaru stuff ......

humfrz

Quote:

Originally Posted by mav1178

Please read the Owner's Manual and Warranty Booklet for information on coolant.

-alex

Quote:

Originally Posted by finch1750

Know issue. No known cause. Buy some coolant and keep topping it off.

Check the Issue/Waranty forum for similar threads

Quote:

Originally Posted by strat61caster

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporation

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

^ .............

....... I'm sorry, I just thought that was funny ........

humfrz

Quote:

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Accoding to the book in your glovebox the coolant is a 100k mile service interval iirc.
Yes, add distilled water.

It's a tank of water, after 3 years some of it evaporated, not rocket science, top off and it will be fine for another 2+ years.

Edit: And don't fill it to max when cold, the level will fluctuate with temperature, if you put it at max when cold you will over flow when the car is up to temperature, you probably want the level between 50% and low when the car is cold, pop the hood after a drive and see where the coolant is at.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mav1178

Again: read the manual.

You should fill up to between the "Low" and "Full" levels when your engine is cold, not warm and not after a drive.

-alex

I added it after a 15-20 minute drive, since it was recommended here. I didn't see the edit until today.

I didn't add much though.
Yeah, next time I will read the manual before a post, haha.

05-23-2016, 01:54 PM	#1
RedNWhite Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Drives: Scion Fr-s Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 26 Thanks: 32 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Coolant low Hey guys, need some advice. I have a 2013 fr-s, running a little above 27k miles, 3k away from the pricey 30k mile check in at the dealership. My coolant is currently at the low mark, and I often hear and smell the engine cooling down after a 15 minute drive. I'm not sure if they flush or top up the coolant during the 30k check-in, or if this is normal procedure during toyota/scion oil changes. In addition to asking for advice in this situation, I have a couple of questions: 1. When should I get a coolant flush? Is this included in oil changes or major mile check-ins (30k mile)? 2. Is it okay to add distilled water or a normal coolant to the car? I use this car as my daily, the car has never been used for racing.

05-23-2016, 03:50 PM	#5
finch1750 Undisputed El Presidente Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Zenki 37J ZN6 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 11,593 Thanks: 9,403 Thanked 9,411 Times in 5,270 Posts Mentioned: 374 Post(s) Tagged: 33 Thread(s)	Know issue. No known cause. Buy some coolant and keep topping it off. Check the Issue/Waranty forum for similar threads __________________ "Just like how a strut bar somehow enables you to corner 20MPH faster around a cloverleaf on-ramp, when the reality is, you can do it already but you just don't have to balls to do it." - CSG David

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05-23-2016, 03:00 PM	#3
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 30,402 Thanks: 29,782 Thanked 32,802 Times in 16,826 Posts Mentioned: 714 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Yep, to add a bit to the above post, if your coolant is a bit low be sure that you add ONLY distilled (or demineralized) water. If you are compelled to add more anti-freeze (usually not necessary for topping off) be sure to use ONLY the blue Subaru stuff ...... humfrz

05-23-2016, 03:16 PM	#4
mav1178 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: 2005 Toyota Camry Location: 91745 Posts: 6,562 Thanks: 493 Thanked 6,097 Times in 3,029 Posts Mentioned: 95 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Please read the Owner's Manual and Warranty Booklet for information on coolant. -alex

05-23-2016, 05:02 PM	#7
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 30,402 Thanks: 29,782 Thanked 32,802 Times in 16,826 Posts Mentioned: 714 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	^ ............. ....... I'm sorry, I just thought that was funny ........ humfrz

05-23-2016, 09:20 PM	#8
RedNWhite Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Drives: Scion Fr-s Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 26 Thanks: 32 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I should have mentioned I'm a newbie. Thanks for the response and detail for when to top it up. I didn't know it was a known issue, I'm going to top up halfway with distilled water after a drive today.

05-24-2016, 12:53 AM	#12
86kahl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: whiteout, dark tint Location: SOCAL Posts: 308 Thanks: 2,453 Thanked 335 Times in 133 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Totaled.

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