Engine coolant level low

More like 30 bucks

 

It wouldn't hurt to put a new radiator cap on it too. You can lose a little there over time when the spring in the cap gets weak.

 

The reservoir on my truck has had pink crust there since it was 6 months old. I've topped it off once and it took maybe 1/2 a cup. I'm at 81k miles

 

I'm around the same mileage and apparently have been driving around with no coolant for who knows how long. None in the tank and popped off the radiator cap and didn't seem like any in there either.
filled it up now and hopefully didn't do any real damage. might get it checked out next oil change but not sure truck seems fine.

 

Look at the reservoir cap. See the piece shaped like a tongue, to the left is a bump, that bump is a vent so the reservoir doesn’t pressurize or create a vacuum. Since the fluid in the reservoir is exposed to the air outside of it, you’ll naturally loose a tiny bit to evaporization.

 

ty. I believe I lost the entire tank to it xD

 

worst case is its burning off in your cylinders, hopefully you find the leak or it is evaporation

 

I didn't see any leaks. I'm questioning if I should've added the coolant to the reservoir or the radiator though since it seemed empty too (it was very cold though)

 

When the engine is cold, fill the radiator to the top. The reservoir looks to be at the low mark, don’t add any to it. Drive and bring it up to operateing temperature. Then when cold again, check the radiator and fill to the top again if necessary, add to the reservoir to the low line if necessary. If the rubber on the cap feels mushy, get it replaced.

 

so I may have already filled the reservoir to full the other day.. doh...
Should I fill the radiator to the top too?
the rubber on the cap does not feel mushy

 

If you already filled the reservoir, don’t fret. If you drove it since, it’s probably gone down. Yes fill the radiator, then after cycling a couple warm up cool down, make sure the reservoir is filled to the top line when warmed up.

If you feel like you continue to lose an excessive amount of coolant, time to find the cause.

 

Mines done it about the same in 7 years. I just filled it up.

 

So far everything looks good. it's in the cap now too and check engine light as turned off. I'll keep an eye on it.


@Alexely999 has a point it's been at least 6 yrs, if not more. so far just filling up the reservoir seems to have worked and hopefully has left no real damage.

 

Had this problem ar my last oil change,Topped it off and moved on. Then about a month after I put new shocks on and had my skid plate off and found a leak in my lower rad hose. Definitely worth having a look even if it isn't the problem.

 

Yeah I don't notice any leaks but perhaps the skid plate is catching it all