Low Coolant

[Roe10]

I have a 2002 Buick Century Limited. My "low coolant" light comes on intermittently. After checking the tank, I can see its pretty low. My car takes Dex-Cool. Do I have to do a flush or can I just add more to the tank? Thank you.

 

[Rich B.]

Just add coolant, just make sure it matches what’s already in system. This could indicate a blown head gasket and actually be steam cleaning one of the piston chambers squeaky clean. Exhaust will be white and sweet smelling, or so with glycol based antifreezes. Always variables with these issues, loose hose clamp(s)?

 

[Roe10]

Just add coolant, just make sure it matches what’s already in system. This could indicate a blown head gasket and actually be steam cleaning one of the piston chambers squeaky clean. Exhaust will be white and sweet smelling, or so with glycol based antifreezes. Always variables with these issues, loose hose clamp(s)?

Is it possible that it's low with no leak?

 

[DrivenDaily]

No.

It's leaking somewhere. Whether it's into the combustion chambers, the oil, or onto the ground, it's going somewhere.

 

[MelsRegal]

Rent a pressure tester or take it to a shop

 

[Rich B.]

Is it possible that it's low with no leak?

Yes, only way I know of if system was drained and refilled it could have air block in engine or other area. So you refill and save 2qts. of antifreeze. Engine will overheat or/and no heat to speak of in cabin. All of a sudden that air blockage works way through and blows out via pressure relief/overflow tank. Bingo, 2qts. low on antifreeze now. Of coarse have done myself and other ways to be sure you have complete fill.

Too you could be blowing out antifreeze if exhaust is filling cooling system with bad gasket again being opposite scenario.You’ll have system pressurized with exhaust, low coolant and exhaust smell from radiator.

Fixed those troubles with copper head gaskets, like milling heads, will raise compression a bit actually.

 

[DrivenDaily]

His comments suggest that it's an on-going issue and that he keeps adding coolant. By now, it would seem that any air in the system would be burped out.

I think there is an issue that needs help, not just a pocket of air.

 

[Rich B.]

His comments suggest that it's an on-going issue and that he keeps adding coolant. By now, it would seem that any air in the system would be burped out.

I think there is an issue that needs help, not just a pocket of

I’ve thought of everything I’ve ever run into, it’s a 22 year old car. Also could be excessive leakage at water pump weep port. I see nobody else coming up with any ideas except take it someplace to fix it or it has a leak. I’m not going to fix anything from here, l know what I’ve troubleshot, l fix things myself. Not because I have to but like the challenge.

Stone hole in radiator… have soldered a few of those over years.

 

[MelsRegal]

I’ve thought of everything I’ve ever run into, it’s a 22 year old car. Also could be excessive leakage at water pump weep port. I see nobody else coming up with any ideas except take it someplace to fix it or it has a leak. I’m not going to fix anything from here, l know what I’ve troubleshot, l fix things myself. Not because I have to but like the challenge.

Stone hole in radiator… have soldered a few of those over years.

Are you denying it has a leak? Coolant doesn't evaporate.
One of the suggestions was to rent a pressure tester to find the leak.

 

[Rich B.]

Are you denying it has a leak? Coolant doesn't evaporate. One of the suggestions was to rent a pressure tester to find the leak.

Of course it has a leak, what am I supposed to do about it? So you told him to rent tester to find leak, nothing wrong with that is there? Could just fill radiator with water run engine awhile and see where it’s a visible leak. Has anybody on here ever worked on cars? I’m just going over things I learned the hard way, just maybe one of my problems will be a ditto HERE.

Oh, do my own furnace work too, just added some stop leak for radiator like baffles inside that burner gun heats. Put in 2 new circulator pumps same time. Point being some of those stop leak products actually work, especially the pepper in the radiator for cars. I’m done here tonight with this… no further comments.

 

[MelsRegal]

Of course it has a leak, what am I supposed to do about it? So you told him to rent tester to find leak, nothing wrong with that is there? Could just fill radiator with water run engine awhile and see where it’s a visible leak. Has anybody on here ever worked on cars? I’m just going over things I learned the hard way, just maybe one of my problems will be a ditto HERE.

Oh, do my own furnace work too, just added some stop leak for radiator like baffles inside that burner gun heats. Put in 2 new circulator pumps same time. Point being some of those stop leak products actually work, especially the pepper in the radiator for cars. I’m done here tonight with this… no further comments.

Sorry, thought for a moment you were the OP.

 

[HotZ28]

The advice to "just add more coolant" to the system does not resonate very well with me, not knowing how old the current coolant in the system is? I see no indication of the OP's post to describe if it's original, or has been flushed & changed by the book? Other posters need to start a new thread, rather than tagging into another persons thread.

 

[DrivenDaily]

All the others posts are from folks offering input.

I provided mine and then later added the reasoning behind it. Whether it's valid or not, or whether others feel it's worthy or not, is not why I shared it.

Like @Rich B. and likely most others, we've learned stuff over the years and are happy to share that, which is most likely one of the reasons we joined and why we share. I know it's true for me.

 

[Roe10]

Hi, OP here. Thank you all so much for your input. I am just a regular novice Buick owner but have found this forum to be so helpful when things come up with my car. Rich B, I do appreciate your experience and advice and time taken to post as I do all of you. Please keep posting to help people like me and experts alike. It is so helpful and comforting when I start to stress about the unknowns of my car and in the end I learn a thing or two. I ended up taking my car to my mechanic because he was the last one to put the coolant in. I know you cant mix coolants so I wanted to be extra sure and check with him first. The coolant in the tank looked like a dirty green (and was very low) and all the new bottles said orange. In the end he just added more orange and said the coolant in the tank may have gotten dirty, thats why it was that color. I will look out for leaks and just keep an eye on things. I wanted to know if I should flush it because of the green and orange color discrepancy. I was worried about what that might cost but of course didnt want to chance the damage that could have been done ignorantly mixing the two. So for now, will keep an eye on things. Thank you all again and I wish you all the best!!

 

[MelsRegal]

Hi, OP here. Thank you all so much for your input. I am just a regular novice Buick owner but have found this forum to be so helpful when things come up with my car. Rich B, I do appreciate your experience and advice and time taken to post as I do all of you. Please keep posting to help people like me and experts alike. It is so helpful and comforting when I start to stress about the unknowns of my car and in the end I learn a thing or two. I ended up taking my car to my mechanic because he was the last one to put the coolant in. I know you cant mix coolants so I wanted to be extra sure and check with him first. The coolant in the tank looked like a dirty green (and was very low) and all the new bottles said orange. In the end he just added more orange and said the coolant in the tank may have gotten dirty, thats why it was that color. I will look out for leaks and just keep an eye on things. I wanted to know if I should flush it because of the green and orange color discrepancy. I was worried about what that might cost but of course didnt want to chance the damage that could have been done ignorantly mixing the two. So for now, will keep an eye on things. Thank you all again and I wish you all the best!!

So your mechanic didn't test for any leaks?

 

[Roe10]

He did not. He said to keep an eye on the tank to see if it gets low.

 

[MelsRegal]

He did not. He said to keep an eye on the tank to see if it gets low.

You need a new mechanic. If it's a small leak from a hose and the hose bursts it's too late to keep an eye on it
A pressure test should be an easy, inexpensive test.

 

[Roe10]

if the hose bursts how would it be too late? what would happen?

 

[DrivenDaily]

if the hose bursts how would it be too late? what would happen?

You would pull to the side of the road and hope you get a tow before you lose your job.

Short story: I have an older SUV. The starter died, but the closest thing that the RA (roadside assistance) app had was "dead battery", so I selected that. Over 4 hours later the flatbed tow truck came, tried jumping it with the starter pack, and then drove away without towing me! I no longer have that RA company as part of my insurance. I will be getting AAA, but that's another discussion.

So, if you want to risk being stuck, wait for it to break. If not, then have someone test it, find it, and fix it. That's what the heck you pay them for!

 

[MelsRegal]

if the hose bursts how would it be too late? what would happen?

Gee maybe the engine will massively overheat and then rather than repairing a simple leak you need a new engine.