Engine coolant warning light

[danlat1415]

Hi guys,
I've got the engine coolant warning light on for the first time yesterday. It came on when switched engine on, the went off a couple of seconds later - though it just came on by accident because it hadn't come one since then, until I just took a trip to the Spar shop, and it came on again when switched ignition on, and went back off a few seconds later.

I didn't know what the warning light was for, so had to go in the manual to find out.

It's the engine coolant warning light, because the coolant is too low..?

I can't check it now because it's dark, and the engine is warm.

Where would I get the coolant from?

it's water/anti-freeze mixture I think.
Also am I ok to top it up myself, or is it best to do at a garage?

Thanks
Dan

[Duncan]

Buy the long-life red stuff from Vx. Mix it 50/50 with water and you can top it up yourself.

[Big Sig]

Or just add water its only a small amount so the % mix will be ok

[Duncan]

Given winter is on the doorstep, I'd be inclined to mix it up properly and top it up. Better safe than sorry. You can buy 1 litre bottles of it so that'll be more than enough as that will give you 2 litres of mixed fluid.

[Hideous]

Mine came on one time just before the last service - while I was going around a very sharp bend, a tad too fast
Haven't seen it since :/

[Big Sig]

Given winter is on the doorstep, I'd be inclined to mix it up properly and top it up. Better safe than sorry. You can buy 1 litre bottles of it so that'll be more than enough as that will give you 2 litres of mixed fluid.

Depends on how much is added. If its only half a litre or so its not worth adding any anti freeze. 50/50 mix is something like -27 so half a litre or so of water would hardly weaken the mix at all

[danlat1415]

Thanks for the advice.

How much do you put in?
In the handbook it says just above the Kalt/Cold Arrow... there isn't a minimum maximum like the other things you topup.

[Big Sig]

The min mark is the join in the headder top-up tank

[danlat1415]

Thanks, but whats the maximum, don't want to overfill it because it increases when it's hot.

[Duncan]

There's a level mark on the expansion tank marked Kalt or Cold. That's where you fill it to when it's cold. Worst case scenario - if you put too much in it'll simply vent out of the little spout in the back of the expansion tank.