Last Novemebre I had to get a new rad.

Car ran warmer after- about right in the middle
of guage.

Past few weeks car would run all the way up into the red to the end of guage- then a min later cool back down, I just thought it was a faulty sensor but I checked red level and found it down a few inches. CAr also took several minutes to put out heat when derfost was on.

So I

topped it up about a litre and half (I think a litre is a quart...maybe a pint?)

Overflow is down below cold line-

Should I fill to cold line?

And why am I going through coolant?

thanks

 

You made sure to see if there was any leaks? The car shouldn't be going through so much coolant unless there was a leak.

 

I'm starting to think there must be- but it must be some pin ***** leak.....or I don't know
because it's been started to overheat a month ago-
seems like it would have drained completely empty.

With rad and overflow top-up it took 2.5L not as much as I'd originally thought. I drive to school today so i can test it out.

 

With the car cold open the radiator cap and see where the level is. It should be full. Then check your overfill tank and it should be filled to COLD FULL. Now drive around for the day then park the car when you get home and wait until it is cold. Check your levels again. They shouldn't of dropped much. If the level in the overfill tank is under the cold mark by more than I would 1/2 inch then you got a leak. Make sure you do this check both times when the engine is bone cold to get accurate readings.

 

Today car didn't overheat

After driving to school I checked overflow- was close but below cold line....? Shouldn't be by hot line?

I checked it later when it was bone cold and it was well below cold line. Rad was full though.

You must be right- I have to have a leak.
Car is going in shop on monday for the 1500rpm idle problem, maybe they can tell where it's leaking.

thanks for the advice

 

Well now with the car bone cold fill the overfill tank and see tomorrow if it's lost any coolant. I know I have a leak right now on mine. The hose that goes to the heater core is leaking so I am going to have to repair that. Let me know how it goes with the mechanic.

 

Check the "weep" hole on the water pump. I've seen issues where you can lose coolant out of here and not see a drop of it on the ground. Usually occurs while your driving. Drive the car around and then look under it while it's running. This might be the issxue.

Good luck.