Coolant Level...

[babot]

My XD is 2003 GLS and I'm a second owner (bought this March, 22000mi).

Its milage is about 29000mi now and when I checked the coolant level today, it was below the 'Low' mark. I didn't add nor check the coolant level ever and the water temperature never went over the middle line. (and I suspect the previous owner did ever check such things.) So I bought anti-freeze and added 50:50 mix.


My question is..... is it normal to be under the Low line in such milage/year ? (if coolant was not added..)

[kizzo]

Did you check the coolant level with the car running or with the car off?

Anything could have happened, maybe the previous owners car overheated one day and the radiator cap popped off and some of the coolant came out. I wouldnt worry about it too much.

[babot]

I checked it when the car was not running and cool....

I'll just check the level regularly for a while... thanks ..

[pecs]

You might have a slow leak. It seems the upper and lower radiator hoses are prone to leaking (near the manifold). At least they were on my car.

[ricerrx7]

Fill it up, and check it in a month. If it's low again, take it in under warranty and tell them you're losing coolant.

[KeWLKaT]

anyone know what the outside diameter for these hoses is?

[pecs]

They are molded hoses, so you need to go to the dealer and get the exact hose from them. Just cutting 2" (or whatever) coolant hose isn't going to work.

[cbrmale]

The spring-loaded hose clamps used on modern cars are prone to stretching. My XD was losing coolant, but I saw the coolant stain on the engine block below the thermostat. The dealer pressure tested it and replaced two stretched clamps. That dealer also sold Alfa and Peugot, and he said that all three makes he sells suffer from the same problem in hot weather.

My wife's Opel Corsa was also losing coolant. The dealer pressure tested it and replaced three out of the four clamps (I wished they'd done the fourth as well).