Checking coolant level

[PeteCG]

I'm probably going to sound very thick now...

I've checked the manual and searched around on here but can't see how you check the coolant level. All my previous cars have had a clear MIN and MAX mark on the expansion tank, but the 406's is black. How on earth do you check the level?

[mbell666]

Theres kind of a marking/funny thing in the neck of the expansion tank. should be somewhere round that.

french cars

a lot of the 406 have a warning light that comes on if the level drops too low!

[PeteCG]

Is that inside the filler neck of the tank? If so, how do you see when the coolant's over it??? I know the cap is a pressure valve so over-filling shouldn't be an issue, but it certainly doesn't do it any good! Very strange system.

I don't like leaving it for the warning light to come on - that's too low really, especially when it's warm and you could end up stuck in traffic!

[mbell666]

yup in the filler neck of the expansion tank.

take the cap of and have a look. theres funny bit done it coolant level should be round that. its really hard to describe, you just need to take the cap off and check it round the funny bit.

[PeteCG]

Any photos of the 'funny bit'? I'm sure I'll find it but I'm also thinking of people searching in the future.

[steve_earwig]

Will this do?

Hmm, looks like limescale in there, should I put some Limelite in it?

[PeteCG]

Looks good. Which bits are the min/max though?

[steve_earwig]

To be honest, I'm not exacly sure. Mine's always looked like that and I presume the "slot" is the max level, so whatever that bar is underneath is probably the minimum. I just checked in Service Pox and it goes through a whole load of stuff about letting the engine cool down before you take the cap off an' all that guff, then neglects to say when the level is correct

[mbell666]

i alway just went with as long as i can see the coolant its ok!

[Welly]

Here's mine.......


I go for half way up the "cup" thing and it's allways fine. Put too much in and it will spew it out

I'm glad I filled my cooling system up with raw sewage, pond water and North Sea water now - it's been running lovely

Edited with how it looked when fixord......

[mjb]

Will this do?

Hmm, looks like limescale in there, should I put some Limelite in it?

I find that's the level it ends up at after you over-fill it (which I always do!) and it's been run hot and spit out the excess

The top of the slot is the 'max' and the bottom is the 'min'. Just make sure it's above 'min' and you'll be fine

[Smelliot]

Here is mine... how green is the coolant meant to be? Mine is 'lickady lime gween/nuclear green'.


...no reason, just wanted to join in

What I am wondering about is this:


What is the little ended thing with the rubber... I think mine is leaking as it's all rusty and the thermostat under it is crusted over... Just wondering why it's there, is it a pressure release valve or something? Anyone else's leak, I have a nice small pool of nuclear green coolant on the top of my gearbox in the triangular weave. I don't have to top coolant up much, but it is obviously seeping out, I'm guessing it's not meant to and should there be a pipe on the end of it?


ok, fixed images... sorry all

[teamster1975]

What is the little ended thing with the rubber... I think mine is leaking as it's all rusty and the thermostat under it is crusted over... Just wondering why it's there, is it a pressure release valve or something? Anyone else's leak, I have a nice small pool of nuclear green coolant on the top of my gearbox in the triangular weave. I don't have to top coolant up much, but it is obviously seeping out, I'm guessing it's not meant to and should there be a pipe on the end of it?

I can't see your photos Smelliot but I've certainly got a leak from the thermostat housing which has formed a nice orange pond beneath it
I've never heard of green antifreeze before, I was recommended to use the red stuff cos it's got a higher boiling point or some such.

[mjb]

Here is mine... how green is the coolant meant to be? Mine is 'lickady lime gween/nuclear green'.

Depends what colour coolant you put in

What is the little ended thing with the rubber...

Just a stopper I think. It's like that on the other 2 tubbies I've had my hands on. Might be worth just grabbing a new one (and clip) from the dealer. Can't imagine it being more than a quid or so

I have a nice small pool of nuclear green coolant on the top of my gearbox in the triangular weave.

The two tubbies I've dealt with have had exactly the same thing. Interestingly enough the puddle on mine was green too, although I always used bright orange antifreeze (Halfords Advanced). As long as the puddle doesn't get bigger, I wouldn't worry

[V6Exec]

Will this do?

Hmm, looks like limescale in there, should I put some Limelite in it?

At first I though it was a naughty pic