How Do You Check The Coolant Level?

[w77]

Maybe a stupid question but couldn't find the coolant bottle in my IS200, do you check the coolant level by opening the radiator cap? Should the coolant level be right to the top of the radiator? Thanks.

Richard

[DINO]

Maybe a stupid question but couldn't find the coolant bottle in my IS200, do you check the coolant level by opening the radiator cap? Should the coolant level be right to the top of the radiator? Thanks.

Richard

Look into the engine bay as if you are looking at the radiator just underneath the airbox you will see a window which shows the level. The coolant should be on the half mark when cold and full when warm.

[Rob]

look directly behind the radiator at the mid point and u will see it - the filling point is to the left when looking from the front of the car - NOT THE RADIATOR CAP!!

[w77]

Thanks a lot. I'll try that.

[swfcdan]

just out of interest what is the radiator cap for?

[gsportcars]

you can fill your rad via the rad cap but you just need to make sure that when your rad is full that the right amount of coolant is in your resovior bottle like mentioned above. If there is too much then it will overflow when the engine is hot but that is no big deal as there is an overflow pipe for that reason. If there is too little then you could get an air lock in your system when the engine cools as it will draw air back into the system instead of water.

Be sure not to open your rad cap when the engine is hot.

[swfcdan]

just out of curiosity more than anything (sorry if this sounds daft), but how come you have to use the toyota red stuff? my old car just used to take water

[Rob's Lexx]

water freezes at 0 deg C, you run the risk of it freezing during cold weather if you use just water.....

[swfcdan]

cheer mate, just wondered thats all, i bought 5l of the coolant from the Lexus garage a while back and though i was doing something wrong by not adding any water

[Rob's Lexx]

some coolants you must dilute with water, some come pre-mixed. Not sure about the toyota stuff....

[swfcdan]

the toyota stuff is pre mixed, costs about £15 for 5L