The Radiator CapĪ failure in the radiator cap’s pressure relief valve can be another nearly imperceptible way for coolant to leak out of the system without any overt signs of a major lake. Little by small amount of leaking fluid evaporates, leaving you with low coolant in the reservoir. If you keep driving with a bad thermostat or a leaking thermostat gasket, the problem continues. When you go to look later, all you see is some white smudges or perhaps a little stray crud near the thermostat. The hot metal around the fluid evaporates almost instantly. Heat and time can degrade that gasket it’s also possible for the thermostat to get stuck open, allowing hot fluid to affect the gasket continually.ĭuring a long drive, a tiny amount of coolant can seep out of the failing thermostat seal. The thermostat usually sits on the top of the radiator and holds the pressurized seal of the system with a small gasket. A Bad Thermostat GasketĪ failure in the thermostat or its seal with the radiator can create an almost imperceptible coolant leak that gradually leaves you low on radiator fluid. However, low coolant without any obvious leaks can also be a sign of a very serious problem like a blown head gasket. If you’re lucky, it’s something minor that you can fix on your own, like a loose hose clamp. There are a few obvious and not-so-obvious places where your engine coolant can pull a disappearing act, leaking away without the blatantly obvious sins of a leak. 5 Likely Reasons for Coolant Loss Without A Visible Leaks This is another extension of the engine coolant system, which helps maintain the proper operating temperature for the engine block. Some newer cars and high-performance models also have a water jacket around the intake manifold. At that point, a special gasket in the cap relieves that pressure as hot air without letting the coolant escape from the cap. If the pressure from the super-heated coolant gets too high, it is diverted to the reservoir. The entire system is pressurized and sealed to keep the coolant from boiling out of the hot engine. This keeps the engine warm while keeping it from overheating. When it does, the thermostat opens the valve, which allows the coolant to travel through the radiator again. The coolant continues to circulate until it reaches a specific temperature. It comes into play most during the coldest days of winter when you need the engine to warm up quickly. This helps the engine maintain a specific level of heat for optimal operation. If the coolant temperature drops below a certain degree, the thermostat bypasses and diverts it back to the engine block rather than the radiator. It regulates what happens to the liquid based on the ambient temperature. As the coolant fluid cools, it travels through the radiator to repeat the cycle.Ī liquid-cooled engine also has a thermostat between the engine and the radiator. It then moves through hoses to the radiator, where the outside coming in through the grill cools it. The coolant then absorbs some of the heat energy from the engine. The cooling system is driven by the water pump, which is powered by a pulley connected to the engine’s serpentine belt.Īs the serpentine belt spins, the water pump continually passes liquid through the system and into carefully engineered passages in the engine block. If you have fixed this problem already, let me know what/how you did it.Most modern-day cars have a liquid cooling system made up of a radiator, a water pump, a cooling fan, hoses, and a thermostat. When the magnetic float works properly, it should float to the coolant level in which case you should not see the low coolant warning light on.Īt any rate, I am about to purchase a new expansion tank, since the magnetic float is shut in my expansion tank. So, my sensor thinks that my coolant level is low. In my case, this magnetic float no longer floats any more and currently sits on the bottom of the expansion tank. If the sensor probe is brittle and damaged, you will most likely need a new sensor.Ģ) Inside the expansion tank, there is a magnetic float that works with your sensor unit to send a signal if you have enough coolant in the expansion tank. Lift up expansion tank to expose the sensor units (one on the left side is coolant level sensor) and remove the sensor for close inspection. Thininking that I had a defective coolant level sensor, bought a brand-new one, replaced it, but I still have the low coolant light on.īased on what I've learned so far, I have 2 advices for you:ġ) You might have a defective coolant level sensor. I have exactly the same problem with my 1996 850 Turbo.
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