5 Reasons Your Coolant Level Is Low And How To Fix It
The engine combustion unit produces a lot of warmth. Sometimes the temperatures were well over 200 degrees. It is important to use a cooling system to control this heat. The coolant system inside the car is a sealed system. This means that even if everything works or there is still a coolant level, it should remain.
But are you sure it drives at a coolant level with a low engine? What causes it and how do you recognize it without opening the hood? Find it! But first, let’s look at why your coolant levels are low.
What causes low coolant levels? The most common reason for low coolant levels is leaky cooling systems. Leaks can occur from leaky hoses, sensors, or seals. It should not be a long-term solution just to absorb coolant levels.
In this article, you will find other possible symptoms, but you can first see the results of driving with low engine coolant levels.
Results of low motor coolant levels
The most common result of operating with low engine coolant is air in the cooling system, which leads to an overheated engine. An overheating engine can lead to a head seal or a broken motor block. Here you can find a more detailed list of what happens if you drive ignoring the engine’s coolant level when it’s low.
1. Coolant system air
The first thing that happens when you run around with low coolant is that the water pump sends air to the coolant system, leading to the airlock of the coolant system. The air lock leads to the course of the cooling system, which leads to the overheating engine.
2. Overheating engine
Because air is trapped in the coolant system we discussed previously, the water pump pumps around the coolant to keep the engine at a good temperature, which leads to overheating of the engine. Using an engine can cause many expensive problems that will be discussed in the next section.
3. Blow the head seal
Very common things that can occur when the engine is a bleedhead seal due to a low engine coolant. The head seal is between the motor head and the cylinder head. Its purpose is to separate compression, oil and coolant.
4. Damaged engine block
A more serious problem that can occur when driving with low engine coolant is damaged or cracked engine blocks. As I’ve already said, low engine coolant hotspots can be created in a cooling system.
These hotspots can cause extreme temperatures in the engine block and can actually crack, with cracks in the engine block or cylinder head being the last one. To repair, the entire engine block must be replaced.
5. The fraudulent engine
Most engine parts are made of metal, and as you may already know, metals stretch and shrink depending on temperature. If the engine gets too hot, the engine parts can be expanded so much that it can cause damage and capture the engine. Usually, there is the only way to secure the confiscated engine and tear the entire engine to find the problem.
Are you sure the engine’s coolant level is low?
A low engine coolant can cause airlocks in the coolant system, and an overheated engine can destroy or completely confiscate expensive parts, such as engine blocks.
Refilling your engine coolant is very easy and it’s worth taking into account the results. Make sure the coolant reservoir does not open when the engine coolant is hot!
Symptoms of low engine coolant
The most common symptom of low motor coolants is the coolant warning symbol on the dashboard. The easiest way to determine if your engine has a low coolant level is, of course, to open the hood and check the coolant reservoir. However, there are a few other things you can check. Here you will find a more detailed list of the most common symptoms of low engine coolant.
1. Low engine coolant symbol on dashboard
Most modern cars have warning lights that appear on the dashboard when the engine coolant is low. It may sound obvious, but not all car models have this light, especially if the car model is a little older. If a coolant warning light with a low engine coolant appears on the dashboard, it’s definitely time to check the coolant level.
2. Variable temperature display
Another symptom of low engine coolant you will notice is that engine measurements can fluctuate rapidly between different temperatures.
When the airlock surrounds the coolant sensor, it falls and returns to normal temperature when the coolant returns.
3. Rising temperature gauge
When the engine is being cooled normally, the dashboard’s temperature gauge will be below the halfway mark. If it moves up over the engine’s working temperature, there is a problem that needs to be fixed fast.
If your temperature gauge is going over the normal working temperature (200 Fahrenheit or 90 degrees Celcius), you need to shut off the engine so as to avoid overheating.
4. Heater is not working
The car’s heater uses the same coolant that runs through the engine. If your heater is not working as expected, you could be suffering from low engine coolant because of airlocks in the heater core.
5. The sweet smell of anti-freeze
One distinguishing characteristic of the anti-freeze is that it has a sweet smell. If you notice that your engine is producing a sweet smell, then the cooling system is leaking.
Causes of Low Engine Coolant Level
The most common cause of low engine coolant level is an external coolant leak, but it can also disappear from other places. Here is a more detailed list of the most common causes of a low engine coolant level:
1. External coolant leak
As I mentioned above, the most common cause of low engine coolant levels is external leaks. External coolant leaks can come from any part of the coolant system. Luckily, external coolant leaks are often visible, and you can easily determine where the leak is coming from. Common places external leaks come from include the water pump, radiator, or around the thermostat.
2. Faulty intake manifold gasket
Many intake manifolds cool the intake air with coolant, and they, therefore, have coolant channels inside them.
This gasket can start to leak, and if it does, it will cause the engine to suck in and combust the coolant. You can often recognize this by seeing white smoke from the exhaust pipe.
3. Faulty head gasket
Another thing that can cause low engine coolant is a bad or blown head gasket. As I mentioned above, the head gasket separates the compression, oil, and coolant.
Therefore, a faulty head gasket can cause the coolant to mix with the compression, and it will cause the engine to combust the engine coolant.
4. Faulty radiator cap
Inside the radiator cap, you will find an overpressure valve that opens if the pressure rises above a specific pressure. You can often see this by looking for white smoke coming from the engine bay.
5. Faulty EGR cooler
The last thing on this list that can cause low engine coolant is a crack inside the EGR cooler. Not all car engines have EGR coolers, so you must research if your engine has one first. They are mostly found in European cars. A faulty EGR cooler will cause the coolant to leak into the exhaust pipe, which will also cause white smoke from the exhaust pipe.
