[nursecroft]

Hiya

Ive bought my first MX5 this week, its a '53 plate indiana 1.8i. Ive given it a good clean today and checked it over, the coolant chamber is nearly empty

it was serviced (with time belt change) and MOT'd in October'09 and now im really worried!!! What do you think?

 

[Skuzzle]

fill it up and fill the rad up too.. report back in a few days

 

[nursecroft]

fill it up and fill the rad up too.. report back in a few days

Yeh im waiting to here back from the garage that serviced it to find out what type i should put in... i will keep an eye on it but didnt think i should loose coolant... i have a years mechanical warranty on it though which may come in useful!

 

[waveydavey]

Just top it up and keep an eye on the level for a while. 'Tis probably nothing to worry about, but check all the hoses anyway just to make sure there are no obvious leaks. Also, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the temperature gauge regularly (not just now, but generally)

If the coolant level gets too low you might introduce an air lock when you fill it up. Not a disaster though, and some of the more experienced people on here can give good advice about sorting that if you need it, no problem.

 

[nursecroft]

Just top it up and keep an eye on the level for a while. 'Tis probably nothing to worry about, but check all the hoses anyway just to make sure there are no obvious leaks. Also, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the temperature gauge regularly (not just now, but generally)

If the coolant level gets too low you might introduce an air lock when you fill it up. Not a disaster though, and some of the more experienced people on here can give good advice about sorting that if you need it, no problem.

Oh ok, yeh im rubbish when it comes to techincal stuff with cars thats why im here, i need you lot to teach me properly! So its normal for the coolant level in MX5's to go down that much since october? Because they must have checked it at the service and it hasnt done that many miles, the previous owners obviously didnt notice otherwise they would have topped it up before selling.

 

[waveydavey]

'Tis probably nothing to worry about, but check all the hoses anyway just to make sure there are no obvious leaks. Also, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the temperature gauge regularly (not just now, but generally)

Oh ok, yeh im rubbish when it comes to techincal stuff with cars thats why im here, i need you lot to teach me properly! So its normal for the coolant level in MX5's to go down that much since october? Because they must have checked it at the service and it hasnt done that many miles
[/quote]

Oooo, I think you'll find that depends on the garage. You can never be sure everything has been checked...

If it makes you feel any better, I am also a complete numpty when it comes to working on cars, and therefore normally end up "getting a man in" for all but the most basic of jobs. Still, at least we both have our good looks to fall back on eh?

 

[nursecroft]

'Tis probably nothing to worry about, but check all the hoses anyway just to make sure there are no obvious leaks. Also, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the temperature gauge regularly (not just now, but generally)

Oh ok, yeh im rubbish when it comes to techincal stuff with cars thats why im here, i need you lot to teach me properly! So its normal for the coolant level in MX5's to go down that much since october? Because they must have checked it at the service and it hasnt done that many miles
[/quote]

Oooo, I think you'll find that depends on the garage. You can never be sure everything has been checked...

If it makes you feel any better, I am also a complete numpty when it comes to working on cars, and therefore normally end up "getting a man in" for all but the most basic of jobs. Still, at least we both have our good looks to fall back on eh?

[/quote]

 

[TheDinkyToy]

It shouldn't matter what type of coolant you put in. Just mix it 50/50 half coolant with half water. Fill it to the line in the expansion tank when the engine is cold, take the lid off the radiator and see if it is full up, if not then top it up to the brim.

Drive her as normal and check before and after each drive, and as has been said keep an eye on the temperature gauge. Report back in a few days. If you look around the engine bay and there is a leak then its coolant usually leave an obvious greeny white residue.

The obivious places they leak from are at the back of the engine little little pipe at the bottom. If the passenger footwell is damp then it could well be your heater matrix pipes leaking. Check the pipes to and from the radiator. Possibly from the tell tale hole on the coolant pump.

Go one girl you know you want to get your hands in there. It's easy peasy once you get the hang of it.

Kirsty.

 

[DavesBRG5]

Could just be an air lock asuming the water pump was replaced when the timing belt was done. The air lock has cleared itself so the water level has gone down accordingly. If that makes sense?

As said top it up to the line & keep your eye on it. If it keeps going down use your Warranty & get it sorted ASAP.

 

[Allan M]

funny you should say that, i had a look at mine today when i was poking about and noticed it was also nearly empty.

No issues with the car overheating or anything. I just topped it up with water, didnt take much.

I will let you know if it goes back down.

 

[nursecroft]

Could just be an air lock asuming the water pump was replaced when the timing belt was done. The air lock has cleared itself so the water level has gone down accordingly. If that makes sense?

As said top it up to the line & keep your eye on it. If it keeps going down use your Warranty & get it sorted ASAP.

Yeh well Mazda thinks thats what it is so ive topped it up, will check the rad tomorrow, i enjoy playing with the car, im a horsey girl so used to getting my hands dirty! Just need to makesure i know what im doing first! lol

 

[skinny]

just don't mix green/blue coolant with the pink stuff and you'll be fine. if in doubt, just top it up with some battery water (halfords) and keep an eye on it. always check when cold tho, as when it's hot it expands in the tank.

 

[adam0bmx0]

Also just to say, do not take the rad cap off immedietly after you have driving the car as the water in the rad will be pressurised and blow out of the hole with boiling hot water, wait for the car to cool down, say 20-30mins or so.

 

[nursecroft]

Also just to say, do not take the rad cap off immedietly after you have driving the car as the water in the rad will be pressurised and blow out of the hole with boiling hot water, wait for the car to cool down, say 20-30mins or so.

Yeh thats why i havent checked it yet, but am waiting for the rain to ease off, have already got soaked once this morning nipping out for 2 mins!

 

[nursecroft]

I added neat blue coolant... is that ok? It had blue coolant in the cannister before.

 

[Pedro]

My mates called me girly because i had to pour pink coolent in one of my cars. They thought i was doing it because i liked the colour!

 

[skinny]

I added neat blue coolant... is that ok? It had blue coolant in the cannister before.

yup that's fine - you are supposed to dilute it with water (1 part coolant with 3 parts water) but unless you put loads in, it will mix in it's own time with the stuff that's in there and be ok.

 

[AaronR]

The exact same situation happened to my car. I filled it up and it's been fine ever since!