low on coolant at 20k miles... is this normal?

Handsdown · 09-29-2004, 05:32 PM

i have to add some coolant to my resivior tank, it's exactly at the "low" line... it says replace the coolant at 30k and i'm only at 20k miles, do i have a leak or is this (somewhat) normal?

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iamrazor · 09-29-2004, 05:33 PM

do you know where the level was to start at?
you could fill it and use that as a baseline and see what happens from there.

Handsdown · 09-29-2004, 05:37 PM

that's what i'll end up doing.

dinner first. then get coolant.

DrBoy01 · 09-29-2004, 07:53 PM

My car has the same miles as yours (~20k). Several months ago, I noticed that the coolant reservoir level was a little low, so I added a bottle of Redline Water Wetter and it stayed at the new level for a long time.

It seems a little low on some days, but I'm convinced that there is just a lot of coolant circulating in the engine and that the level fluctuates on a daily basis.

Let me know if you hear anything about potential leaks, etc. I'm not worried, but you never know

jasona · 09-29-2004, 08:36 PM

They found a crack in my radiator at the dealership at about 20k. No idea what it was from, or that it was even there till they told me. Fixed under warranty.

whtlegacy · 09-29-2004, 08:58 PM

I've worried about this as well. Try going for a drive and getting the engine nice and hot. If you check it then, I'll be it will be pretty close to the maximum fill line. Sometimes mine tends to dip just below the low line if the engine is cold.

jamesfacts · 09-29-2004, 10:26 PM

Antifreeze naturally is burnt off in normal driving. Just the same way a new car consumes oil. I wouldn't be worried at all if I was a little low after 20k on the same antifreeze.

09-29-2004, 05:32 PM	#1
Handsdown Scooby Guru Member#: 29355 Join Date: Nov 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: seattle Vehicle: 2003 GD6 Hate chall but i'mma maintain	low on coolant at 20k miles... is this normal? i have to add some coolant to my resivior tank, it's exactly at the "low" line... it says replace the coolant at 30k and i'm only at 20k miles, do i have a leak or is this (somewhat) normal? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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09-29-2004, 05:33 PM	#2
iamrazor Scooby Guru Member#: 52324 Join Date: Jan 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Pelham, NH Vehicle: 2011 SWP WRX LTD 1990 T30 miata	do you know where the level was to start at? you could fill it and use that as a baseline and see what happens from there.

09-29-2004, 05:37 PM	#3
Handsdown Scooby Guru Member#: 29355 Join Date: Nov 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: seattle Vehicle: 2003 GD6 Hate chall but i'mma maintain	that's what i'll end up doing. dinner first. then get coolant.

09-29-2004, 07:53 PM	#4
DrBoy01 Scooby Specialist Member#: 20444 Join Date: Jun 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Wilmington, DE\|Berkeley Vehicle: 2006 Outback 2.5 XT Garnet Red Pearl 5MT	My car has the same miles as yours (~20k). Several months ago, I noticed that the coolant reservoir level was a little low, so I added a bottle of Redline Water Wetter and it stayed at the new level for a long time. It seems a little low on some days, but I'm convinced that there is just a lot of coolant circulating in the engine and that the level fluctuates on a daily basis. Let me know if you hear anything about potential leaks, etc. I'm not worried, but you never know

09-29-2004, 08:36 PM	#5
jasona Scooby Specialist Member#: 11786 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Arkansas Vehicle: 02 TS Black on White	They found a crack in my radiator at the dealership at about 20k. No idea what it was from, or that it was even there till they told me. Fixed under warranty.

09-29-2004, 08:58 PM	#6
whtlegacy Scooby Specialist Member#: 38400 Join Date: Jun 2003 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Cleveland Vehicle: 2004 WRX Wagon DRZ400SM	I've worried about this as well. Try going for a drive and getting the engine nice and hot. If you check it then, I'll be it will be pretty close to the maximum fill line. Sometimes mine tends to dip just below the low line if the engine is cold.

09-29-2004, 10:26 PM	#7
jamesfacts NASIOC Supporter Member#: 51282 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Brooklyn NYC / Danbury CT Vehicle: 98 RS black & blue from parking	Antifreeze naturally is burnt off in normal driving. Just the same way a new car consumes oil. I wouldn't be worried at all if I was a little low after 20k on the same antifreeze.