Rep Power: 0

Does anyone else have to add coolant to their civic every once in a while?

I just checked a few things under the hood and noticed that my coolant resevoir is within about an inch of the min line.. i last topped it up to max a little over a year ago, which was about a month after I bought it..

As a car newb, I was under the impression that the cooling system was all sealed, and therefore nothing should evaporate, which leaves only it either being burned or leaking, and it's not leaking, i park in the same place every day on a smooth/fairly clean garage floor and i've never seen any abnormal fluids under there..

but then again that's such a small amount of fluid to disappear over a year I was just thinkin it might be normal?

thanks for any help

 
Rep Power: 811

That's strange. I don't know because the dealer always fills fluids when I go for an oil change.

 
Rep Power: 0

you are right, u shouldn't be topping off. 1st things that comes to mind is your head gasket, you go and have the cooling system check. they put some dye in and that will show leaks.

 
Rep Power: 0

I have had the same problem with my car since I first got it in Sep '01. About once a year I have to fill up the reservoir from slightly above the min to the max cold line. I've kept an eye out for leaks, but haven't seen any signs yet. My only guess is that it's either getting "burned" off or evaporating out of the reservoir... after all, that thing isn't air tight.

etdigitalis

 
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all cars will evaporate some coolant over time if they do not use a completely sealed system. the overflow bottle is open to the atmosphere, and all fluids will evaporate at some point. ex. a gm system with the radiator cap ontop of the bottle is a completely sealed system.

 
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if you find yourself constantly topping off ANY fluid, there is something wrong. like i said b4, dont be surprised if your head gasket is roasted. when driving, do you notice a sweet smell or excessice white smoke?????

 
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I think slowly evaporates from the overflow resovoir. If you notice, the overflow resovoir cap is not tightly sealed.

 
Rep Power: 274

u needa get ur hoses check and radiator. worse comes 2 worse u have a crack in ur headgasket... garuntee it

 
Rep Power: 423

A little bit over a long time is normal. the cooling system holds a little over a gallon. If you had to add 2" back to the overflow, you might have poured in 4-8 ounces of coolant. I wouldnt be worried.

 
Rep Power: 0

yeah, I agree with Boilermaker... i'd just keep an eye on it.. once a year isn't bad.. I just had to replace my headgasket.. but mine was the opposite... air was getting into the coolant and I had to keep bleeding out the system before I replaced it... the coolant kept rising up my reservior... and i think that's the symptom a lot of people have with headgaskets is air getting into the coolant and causing the level to rise... so, i'd just check it periodically.. top it off as needed and make sure to remember to get the pre-mixed coolant or to mix it manually before adding..

 
Rep Power: 0

I have this same kind of problem. have topped it up once 2 years ago, and probably gonna have to do it again soon..I'm not to worried about it though.
oh well.