Coolant Use Over Time
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 188
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From: waterford nj
Coolant Use Over Time
My 02 PSD wil be turning 2 in a few weeks and is at 35,000 miles.
I noticed the other day that my coolant level in the reservoir is about an inch and a half below the cold fill line.
looking at the tank I am guessing I am going to need about 1/2 to 1 gal. to top it off.
Is this drop about right for 2 years?
I don't see or smell any leaks but I did notice that my cap was a little loose so I am thinking some loss through evaporation.
Does Walmart carry the Shell coolant?. I always buy the Rotella there oil but never looked for coolant.
Thanks .
Scott
I noticed the other day that my coolant level in the reservoir is about an inch and a half below the cold fill line.
looking at the tank I am guessing I am going to need about 1/2 to 1 gal. to top it off.
Is this drop about right for 2 years?
I don't see or smell any leaks but I did notice that my cap was a little loose so I am thinking some loss through evaporation.
Does Walmart carry the Shell coolant?. I always buy the Rotella there oil but never looked for coolant.
Thanks .
Scott
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: Newport News
I noticed mine has done the same thing. I have 84000 on mine and I'm about 2 inches down from the cold fill. I'm curious as to whether I should just top it off, or if there's a reason behind why the coolant is disappearing. Makes me a little uneasy sometimes, but hopefully someone who knows what's up will have a good answer for us.
Terry
Terry
New User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
low coolant as well
I have a 2002 PSD Dually I use for moderate towing. I checked my coolant levels the other day and noticed that mine appears to be 1 1/2 in. below the min. line. I too would like to know if this is normal or if I should be concerned a larger systemic problem that others may be experiencing as well. My truck has 40000 miles and to this point has caused me very little issues. If you have information please drop a reply.
Kevin
Kevin
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
Likes: 25
From: Damon (South East Texas)
I found with my '01, that was some slight seepage of coolant from the thermostat housing. Just enough to give off an odor, but seemed to evaporate from the engine heat. The radiator hose may seep around the neck of this housing and also the O-ring where it seals to the waterpump. When I replaced the radiator hose to route it outside the belt, I cleaned and repainted the housing. I replaced the thermostat and O-ring and put a little RTV silicone on the thermostat housing to help it seal and replaced the sqeeze clamps with the SS worm gear type. No more leaks.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: MA
Mine uses very little, and oil analysis always comes up negative for glycol. The ’97 F150 I had would used some & needed to be topped off at every oil change. My folks now use that truck on the farm, and found it was overheating last fall. This was caused by an empty coolant reservoir (they weren't topping it off like I had been doing). Once topped off it was fine. That truck always ran good/strong & it now has 140k miles on it. I have no idea where the coolant went (no leaks, and didn’t do oil analysis on that truck), but it never seemed to cause any problems.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,782
Likes: 100
From: Phoenix, AZ
Mine had / has the same symptoms.
I added coolant several months ago and topped it off. I then marked the level of fluid with a permanent marker on the side of the degas filler bottle.
I check it often and I saw that the level will be lower then the mark and sometimes a bit higher. I believe the level changes about 1" or so due to the amount of fluid that is captured in the block at the time of thermostat opening and closing.
Blackstone oil sample; no coolant in the oil.
I added coolant several months ago and topped it off. I then marked the level of fluid with a permanent marker on the side of the degas filler bottle.
I check it often and I saw that the level will be lower then the mark and sometimes a bit higher. I believe the level changes about 1" or so due to the amount of fluid that is captured in the block at the time of thermostat opening and closing.
Blackstone oil sample; no coolant in the oil.
