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

Tt3Sheppard · 11-20-2012, 09:55 AM

So I went to go change my DRL's to LED's and I noticed my coolant level was below the low fill line when the car is cold. The car only has 9500 miles on it. Is this normal? Or should I take it to the dealer for a possible coolant leak?

Blue86 · 11-20-2012, 10:42 AM

odd. these cars aren't meant to need the cooling system serviced for some really long amount of time like 12 years or something.

let the dealer check it to be safe

whtchocla7e · 11-20-2012, 11:15 AM

Are you looking at the reservoir tank?

Then it should be fine if it's below the low marker when the engine is stone cold.

Don Ivey · 11-20-2012, 04:45 PM

Just buy some coolant (Scion brand) and add to correct mark. It's easy.

Sony · 11-20-2012, 09:25 PM

I had the same thing happen, around 9000 miles I noticed the coolant was low, I topped it off and it's holding steady (at 11,000 miles now.) I don't think all of the air was bled out of the system at the factory and I just didn't notice until now. I really hope it's not a leak.

Craig · 11-20-2012, 10:54 PM

I noticed my coolant getting low (between full and low) the other day, @ around 3500 miles. Probably nothing to worry about, just gonna top it off if it gets low.

IllusiveFRS · 11-20-2012, 11:18 PM

That should be noted when you take it in for service. Let them know, my dealership topped it off for me at each service since I let them know. 13k and it is holding for now.

czar07 · 11-21-2012, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Ivey

Just buy some coolant (Scion brand) and add to correct mark. It's easy.

NEVER add more coolant to the cooling system. Always top up with de mineralised water

RoryTate · 11-21-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czar07

NEVER add more coolant to the cooling system. Always top up with de mineralised water

Not so in North America my friend. The appropriate antifreeze/water mix is required unless you don't drive in the winter.

Tt3Sheppard · 11-21-2012, 10:37 AM

Yea she's due for an oil change at 10500 so I should be hitting that sometime next week. I'll bring it in and have them check it out.

dsgerbc · 11-21-2012, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Ivey

Just buy some coolant (Scion brand) and add to correct mark.

Not sure of the specs of the regular 'Scion brand' coolant, but if one uses it to top off the system, service/replacement frequency should be adjusted accordingly. OEM coolant is a long-life coolant with first replacement @11years/137kmiles. If all OEM Scion coolant is like that - do it.
If not - get a proper coolant.

Lol @'de mineralized water' comment.

ravenblackfrs · 11-25-2012, 11:12 AM

I don't care what the service freq is... I'm replacing my every 2 years... A proper flush and change. Call it overkill, but to maintain the life of the vehicle, its worth it to me. Just like they say you don't have to change the oil but every 7500 miles, which to me is full of shit too! 3k or 3mo.... thats what I have always done. Thats what I will continue to do!

JohnS_Rosamond · 11-25-2012, 01:03 PM

Low coolant in the reservoir overflow bottle is not a biggie. I do not think that this constitutes a possible leak. As stated before, have your dealer make a note of it and have them top it off. For me, I think that I would be more concerned if the car was full hot and the reservoir was empty (or something like that). If this was a used car (and the amount of fluid missing from the reservoir bottle was small), I would top off with some distilled water. But as said, if the bottle was empty, then it's time to look for something else (like a bad radiator cap, or leaks).

11-20-2012, 11:15 AM	#3
whtchocla7e Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2013 FR-S Hot Lava Location: CT Posts: 424 Thanks: 30 Thanked 222 Times in 81 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Are you looking at the reservoir tank? Then it should be fine if it's below the low marker when the engine is stone cold. __________________ Live to drive another day

11-20-2012, 04:45 PM	#4
Don Ivey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Drives: '13 FR-S Location: Smithfield, NC Posts: 139 Thanks: 3 Thanked 44 Times in 33 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Just buy some coolant (Scion brand) and add to correct mark. It's easy. __________________ Don Ivey '13 FR-S (Hot Lava)

11-20-2012, 09:25 PM	#5
Sony Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ MT Limited Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 805 Thanks: 20 Thanked 463 Times in 200 Posts Mentioned: 25 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I had the same thing happen, around 9000 miles I noticed the coolant was low, I topped it off and it's holding steady (at 11,000 miles now.) I don't think all of the air was bled out of the system at the factory and I just didn't notice until now. I really hope it's not a leak. __________________ Dark Blue 2020 Subaru Forester Sport, Name: Apollo - God of Music WRB 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited MT, Name: Zeus - Father of all God's and God of Sky and Thunder Perrin Cat-Back, ECUTek Tune by Kaizen Tuning, Perrin Silicone Radiator Hoses, Perrin Master Cylinder Brace, Perrin True Cold Air Intake

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11-20-2012, 10:42 AM	#2
Blue86 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Sonic Blue 86GT Manual Location: Victoria Posts: 376 Thanks: 51 Thanked 122 Times in 61 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	odd. these cars aren't meant to need the cooling system serviced for some really long amount of time like 12 years or something. let the dealer check it to be safe

11-20-2012, 10:54 PM	#6
Craig Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Asphalt FRS Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 338 Thanks: 242 Thanked 191 Times in 66 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I noticed my coolant getting low (between full and low) the other day, @ around 3500 miles. Probably nothing to worry about, just gonna top it off if it gets low.

11-25-2012, 11:12 AM	#12
ravenblackfrs Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: 2013 Raven Black FRS Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 628 Thanks: 415 Thanked 120 Times in 98 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I don't care what the service freq is... I'm replacing my every 2 years... A proper flush and change. Call it overkill, but to maintain the life of the vehicle, its worth it to me. Just like they say you don't have to change the oil but every 7500 miles, which to me is full of shit too! 3k or 3mo.... thats what I have always done. Thats what I will continue to do!

11-25-2012, 01:03 PM	#13
JohnS_Rosamond Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: Mazda MX5 Location: So Cal Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Low coolant in the reservoir overflow bottle is not a biggie. I do not think that this constitutes a possible leak. As stated before, have your dealer make a note of it and have them top it off. For me, I think that I would be more concerned if the car was full hot and the reservoir was empty (or something like that). If this was a used car (and the amount of fluid missing from the reservoir bottle was small), I would top off with some distilled water. But as said, if the bottle was empty, then it's time to look for something else (like a bad radiator cap, or leaks).

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