Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: Jim_rx7 on March 16, 2007, 04:34:47 PM

Title: Easy/Quick way to check coolant levels etc?
Post by: Jim_rx7 on March 16, 2007, 04:34:47 PM
Ok... I have not long got my rex and am planning a coolant change. But on Sunday I\'m going up to knockhill and just wanting to make sure the car is ok before the trip. Is there any easy way to check coolant levels etc??

(pics would be handy! :) )
Title: Easy/Quick way to check coolant levels etc?
Post by: nikp on March 16, 2007, 04:38:42 PM
Take the cap off the filler neck: the metal neck next to the alternator. The coolant leven should be about 1.5/2 inches below the opening or more.
Title: Easy/Quick way to check coolant levels etc?
Post by: Jim_rx7 on March 16, 2007, 04:40:58 PM
to the left of the alternator in between the induction kits and the intercooler piping?
Title: Easy/Quick way to check coolant levels etc?
Post by: Jim_rx7 on March 16, 2007, 04:43:01 PM
if it\'s low just put some water in?? (not checked it yet, just wondering)
Title: Easy/Quick way to check coolant levels etc?
Post by: nikp on March 16, 2007, 04:43:34 PM
Yeah, baby! It\'s the metal tube. So not the cap on the plastic bottle (The AST - although, you might have a metal AST). And not the plastic cap behind the drivers headlight - although it does need some coolant in.
Title: Easy/Quick way to check coolant levels etc?
Post by: nikp on March 16, 2007, 04:44:47 PM
I just put water in. Obviously you need a proper anti freeze based coolant in there to start with. I think some people recommend distilled water, but I\'m less conservative!
Title: Easy/Quick way to check coolant levels etc?
Post by: OLSKOOLROTAR on March 16, 2007, 09:01:25 PM
I find the quickest and easiest way to check my water/oil levels is to just look under the car and check the ground thats its parked on, if I see no puddles I\'m quietly confident that my engine and rad still have fluid.  ;) :Giggle
Title: Easy/Quick way to check coolant levels etc?
Post by: teabagger on March 19, 2007, 11:15:59 AM
Always use distilled water (stuff from halfords, usually near the batteries called de-ionised water I think) as tap water has lots of dissolved minerals in it that you really don\'t want clogging up your engine.
Title: Easy/Quick way to check coolant levels etc?
Post by: RedRummy on March 19, 2007, 11:37:21 AM
Quote from: teabaggerAlways use distilled water (stuff from halfords, usually near the batteries called de-ionised water I think) as tap water has lots of dissolved minerals in it that you really don\'t want clogging up your engine.

Yeah, you don\'t want your radiator clogged with limescale...