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I have a 2013 dodge journey 4 cyl......my coolant tank shows about 1 inch low on coolant ....is it ok to add tap water to bring it up to max level
Posted by B. W. on Dec 16, 2016
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No , never use tap water ! A 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze ! Is it low when engine is hot or is below add cold mark . Should be two levels hot or cold ! And use distilled water if you make your own 50/50 mix .
The A/C causes the engine to work harder (that's why fuel economy suffers when it is run).
If your car has an electric fan - make sure it runs when the engine is hot. If it does not - you may have trouble w/o the A/C running if is gets warmer outside. Look for fail fuses, disconnected plugs, etc.
You may also have flaky thermostat that is not opening fully when needed to exchange hot water in the engine block with cooler water in the radiator.
First, check the coolant level. You should find a semi-transparent reservoir / tank located under the hood that has a cap marked "Coolant". The side of the tank should have two indicator lines - one for HOT and one for COLD. If the engine has been run up to normal temperature (so that it can provide heat in the car), you should see the coolant level at or slightly above the HOT line. If the engine is cold - first thing in the morning or after sitting for several hours - the coolant should be at or slightly above the COLD line. View these levels while the engine is off and the car is parked on a flat, level surface. If there is not enough coolant - you will need to add the CORRECT type for your car.
Hot Engine
(1) With the engine hot, add enough coolant to the tank to bring the level to the HOT line. You may have to check the tank several times after driving if the coolant level in the radiator is down a great deal. NEVER open the radiator cap when the engine is warm or hot!
or:
Cold Engine
(2) With the engine cold, add enough coolant to the tank to bring the level to reach COLD line. Additionally - with the engine cold - you can add coolant directly to the radiator by removing the cap. Start the engine, set heat in car to HOT and add coolant mixture to radiator until level comes up to the bottom of the filler neck. Once the engine is HOT (getting heat in the car) check and top off radiator as needed and put cap back on radiator.
Check the levels in the TANK several times over the next few days when cold. If the tank ever empties -you'll need to have this looked at by a mechanic.
I WOULD CHECK BOTH RADIATOR HOSES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE HOT. THERMOSTAT COULD BE STICKING SLIGHTLY CLOSED.CHECK COOLANT LEVEL MAKE SURE COOLANT NOT LOW.IF COOLING NOT BOILING OUT OF THE EXPANSION TANK. I WOULD HAVE CAR HOOKED UP TO A DIAGNOTIC SCANNER AND CHECK COOLANT TEMPERATURE SEE IF TEMP. OVER 230 DEGREES IF SO RADIATOR COOLING FANS NOT WORKING.COOLANT THERMO SWITCH BAD BOTH FANS SHOULD BE RUNNING AT LOW SPEED.IF ALL LOOKS GOOD YOU COULD HAVE FAULTY LOW COOLANT SENSOR IN EXPANSION TANK.MAKE SURE COOLANT IS IN THE EXPANSION TANK BECAUSE COOLANT LEVEL COULD BE LOW.ADD COOLANT IN THE EXPANSION TANK UNTIL YOU AT MAX LEVEL LINE ON THE EXPANSION TANK.DONT OVER FILL THE EXPANSION KEEP ADDING COOLANT UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL STAYS AT THE MAX LEVEL LINE ON THE EXPANSION TANK.
Sorry to hear all this has been going on and the obvious hasn't been detected by a shop. All those parts probably would not of had to be replaced. This is a classic systom of a blown head gasket. Not every head gasket blown will have coolant in the oil. Compression leak from a cylinder will enter water passage in head and blow out the coolant because compression is greater pressure than coolant system pressure.
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