Low Coolant

I was replacing my air filter and noticed that the coolant reservoir was very low. I assume I should top this off, but my bigger concern is I just got back from a 25k dealer checkup and no one mentioned this to me. Should I bitch out the dealer? How big of an issue is it to have low coolant in the winter? Pic attached.

 

Was the truck cold when you saw this? I would definitely top it off and check and see if you can find a leak. My water pump started leaking and the coolant level dropped. I have since replaced the water pump

 

You could complain to the dealer... but I would rather spend my energy topping it off with the correct fluid (SLLC) and watch it for the next few hundred (or thousand) miles. I occasionally have to top mine off. I've been OK like that for 214,000 km.

How many miles have you got on the truck? (nvm, see you have about 25k)...

 

The dealership should have caught that when you took it in for service. It's not low enough to do any damage but I'd still give them some shit for it.

 

Look at your radiator cap..... Do you see residue of it leaking from the cap?

When I was still under warranty... my reservoir was low also. I found my radiator cap was leaking. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the cap and refilled the reservoir. About 1.5 years later....cap leaks again. I was actually out of warranty by that time. I bought a STANT aftermarket cap.....and took the truck to the dealer to have them top off my reservoir again (expecting to pay $$ for it this time) but they didn't charge me anything. The Stant cap has been good for atleast 4 years....

 

Thanks for the advice gents...

The truck was cold at this time, had been sitting for 2 days. I'll check the cap and pickup some fluid.

 

It could have been at the low mark when the truck was in the shop with it already being warm since it overflows to there as the motor warms up and the coolant expands, then when you went and checked it sucked in everything that was left in the reservoir because it was cold.

 

If it were me, I would go back to the dealer and have them add some OEM fluid. I would never add any of that "fits all" type fluid that the parts stores sale.

 

x2 spent the extra money to get Toyota pink coolant when doing my water pump

 

Is the dealer the only place I can get the pink coolant?

 

First off, low coolant is bad anytime of year.

As mentioned in an earlier post, you should refill and monitor. I would be very concerned about a coolant overflow tank that had bottomed out in 25K, especially on a relatively new vehicle.

If it were my rig, I'd pressure test the cooling system.

 

I believe so. It's pre-mixed 50/50 and it was $13 a gallon for me

 

x2.