Cold out > Low Coolant Light

S

Synned

took tubgirl on a date and got banned

Mar 31, 2005

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Philly

Dec 4, 2005

#1

• Dec 4, 2005

• #1

Okay, when I got out of work last night it was pretty cold and snowing. I started the car and had a low coolant light. Do you guys think that this is because its cold, maybe it froze? Or is it just a coincidence. It stayed on for all of the 5 minutes of driving. Do I just need more coolant?

 

CManT1914

New Member

Feb 5, 2004

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Killeen, Texas

Dec 4, 2005

#2

• Dec 4, 2005

• #2

FWIW, the low coolant light will stay on until you restart the car. It doesn't go off until then.

Sometimes if I'm a little low on coolant, the light will come on only when it's cold out. If it's warm, or the engine is already warm, then it won't come on. Just check your overflow tank, I bet you just need a little more.

 

S

Synned

took tubgirl on a date and got banned

Mar 31, 2005

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Philly

Dec 4, 2005

#3

• Dec 4, 2005

• #3

Oh yeah it makes sense...cold water contracts and hot water expands..right? Ill just put a little bit in.

 

CManT1914

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Feb 5, 2004

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Killeen, Texas

Dec 4, 2005

#4

• Dec 4, 2005

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You know I thought that water contracted when it was cooled (and frozen). But just recently there was a thread where somebody said that water was the only liquid to expand when cooled. That makes sense, since an engine has freeze plugs to pop out in case the coolant freezes. But yea, just put a little in, and you should be set.

 

Blackened302

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Jul 21, 2005

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South TX

Dec 4, 2005

#5

• Dec 4, 2005

• #5

what sort of mixture should he put? i'd think that since he's in the freezing snow he'd need more anti-freeze than water?

 

CManT1914

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Feb 5, 2004

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Killeen, Texas

Dec 4, 2005

#6

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Paul, I think you're right.

 

DFG 5OH

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Aug 28, 2004

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Louisville, KY

Dec 4, 2005

#7

• Dec 4, 2005

• #7

my low coolant light comes on in the winter too...but i found out its because my radiator is leaking pretty bad.

 

95strokerPSU

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Jul 29, 2004

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Sacramento from Philly

Dec 4, 2005

#8

• Dec 4, 2005

• #8

Cold water expands...think about potholes, water gets in cracks in the road, expands, and causes holes. Make sure you are close to a 50/50 water/coolant mix. Someone on here just recently froze their radiator with 70/30 water/coolant mix.

 

Blackened302

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Jul 21, 2005

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South TX

Dec 4, 2005

#9

• Dec 4, 2005

• #9

95strokerPSU said:

Cold water expands...think about potholes, water gets in cracks in the road, expands, and causes holes. Make sure you are close to a 50/50 water/coolant mix. Someone on here just recently froze their radiator with 70/30 water/coolant mix.

Click to expand...

that's what i figured. in this case (freezing temps) shouldn't he run more coolant than water? like a 70 coolant and 30 water?

 

mo_dingo

20+ Year Stangneter

Aug 26, 2003

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Tucson, AZ

Dec 4, 2005

#10

• Dec 4, 2005

• #10

CManT1914 said:

You know I thought that water contracted when it was cooled (and frozen). But just recently there was a thread where somebody said that water was the only liquid to expand when cooled. That makes sense, since an engine has freeze plugs to pop out in case the coolant freezes. But yea, just put a little in, and you should be set.

Click to expand...

Yup, water is the only one. It's molecular structure is to blame. It has enough energy to condense when you start to freeze it, but once you get to 32*F it starts to expand because the energy level drops. There are polar charges on each end, one pos and one neg.

That is why cars have freeze plugs. To expand when the water freezes. so you don't crack your block. But it shouldn't if you have enough antifreeze in the system.
Scott

 

M

Muy_Pyro

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Apr 8, 2005

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Flint, MI

Dec 4, 2005

#11

• Dec 4, 2005

• #11

95strokerPSU said:

Cold water expands...think about potholes, water gets in cracks in the road, expands, and causes holes. Make sure you are close to a 50/50 water/coolant mix. Someone on here just recently froze their radiator with 70/30 water/coolant mix.

Click to expand...

No, cold water contracts ... Frozen Water expands.

 

Blackened302

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Jul 21, 2005

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South TX

Dec 4, 2005

#12

• Dec 4, 2005

• #12

ok, all you newtons and dingleberries, since we can't decide whether or not it expands or contracts, we can definately agree that water does SOMETHING. with that said, i'll refer to my previous post--shouldn't he run more coolant in the mixture? like 70 coolant and 30 water?

 

SMOKEDYA

20+ Year Stangneter

Jul 13, 2003

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Tucson AZ

Dec 4, 2005

#13

• Dec 4, 2005

• #13

i run stright coolant in my over flow/coolant tank and a mix in the radiator, or just go to the car store and get a cheap ass tester ($5.00) and check the coolant level in the rad. for the freeze level. $5.00 for this tester is better then a couple of grand for another engine! peace





john

 

H

hurt

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Apr 1, 2005

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San Antonio, TX

Dec 5, 2005

#14

• Dec 5, 2005

• #14

50/50 mix, I ran that last winter with -40 temps and no problems. easiest way is to get the pre mixed stuff.