I recently went to check my fluid and was very confused. The reservoir is very low and I dont have any issues with cooling. I want to refill it and when I opened the rad. cap, some fluid burst out. Luckily the car wasnt on for 24 hours. I also noticed that the radiator was filled to the brim and I dont know why I couldnt add any more fluid.

SO my question is, should I check the coolant after a few hours of driving? I dont know how long I must wait so I dont get burned.

Any suggestions?

 

let it sit overnight and open the rad cap and see, fill to the top, and the reseivor i keep it right below the max line.

 

You don't need to open radiator cap to top-off your coolant fluid. Just top-off 50-50 coolant fluid to the reservoir to the lower line 4-5 hours after driving.

 

Thanks for the hint.

 

According to my owners manual you should check the level of the coolant in the overflow reservoir at every fill-up (as you should check your engine oil level).
It is listed in the chapter "Things to do at the gas station".
IMO they mean with an engine at operating temp.
In that situation the level in the overflow reservoir shoud be between MIN and MAX.

Do not ever open the radiator cap with a hot engine!
(IMO the radiator cap iteslf is clear about that too)
Let the engine cool down enough before opening the radiator.
What is enough?
IMO if it is still to warm to touch with bare hands => do not open.

When the engine warms up the coolant expands into the overflow reservoir, when the engine cools down the coolant schrinks and coolant is sucked up from the overflow reservoir back into the system.
As long as there is coolant in the overflow reservoir (with a cold engine it should be at or above MIN), there is enough coolant in the engine / radiator as the hose attached to the overflow reservoir cap reaches allmost all the way to the bottom.

Only when the overflow reservoir is as good as empty (well below MIN with a cold or warm engine) you should check the coolant level in the radiator (WHEN COLD!), as there may not have been enough coolant left to be sucked up back into the system going from warm to cold.
Top it up in the radiator and fill the reservoir between MIN and MAX.
By then you should also be checking for leaks IMO.

 

There has been some discussion about the proper coolant and the ingredients in them that our car calls for. Check this thread and decide for yourself. I personally went with Honda Type II.

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