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Hey everyone, this is a simple question. I was under my car tonight replacing an engine mount, and noticed that my radiator reserve is empty, is that something I need to worry about?

 
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Yes.. definitely. When the car is cold pop the rad cap and check to see if there is any coolant in there. You need to fill the reservoir to the minimum line and properly bleed the coolant system... after a really good bleed fill it up between the min and max lines. If it happens again you have a more serious problem that needs to be taken care of. Use only OEM honda coolant.

 
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...how do I bleed it? I'm assuming you don't mean like a flush? I checked a little while later and it is almost to the top of that area...you know with the cap...what if I don't use oem? I have a brand new, well 3 years+ bottle in my shed that has never been opened. It says I can add it to any coolest any color, why couldn't I use that? This is the next new thing I'm learning so I am asking as much as I can to gain any possible knowledge. Would this maybe effect my A/C? Ie when I turn the ac on the power drops, and I rarely get actually cold air? If you have a diagnosis for that problem and don't mind tossing in an opinion I would appreciate it.



* just watched a video on bleeding the radiator, do you just mean open the cap, poor it in the reserve, cap it run the car, let it cool then check my level again?

 
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It's smelling like an HG job to me.

 
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This is how you properly bleed the coolant system:

1. Make sure car is cold
2. Open the hood
3. Remove the radiator cap
4. Jack up the front of the car (optional but recommended)
5. Start the car
6. Make sure your heat and fan are off.
7. Watch the level in the radiator, as it goes down, add Honda OEM coolant.
8. Once the car reaches normal operating temperature (halfway on the gauge), turn the fan to the highest setting.
9. Turn the temperature dial to full hot.
10. Continue filling the radiator full of coolant as the level drops down.
11. When the coolant no longer goes down your done.
12. Make sure the reservoir is somewhere between min, and max.
13. Replace the cap on the radiator.
14. Put the car back on the ground.
15. Put the cap back on the overflow tank.
16. Close the hood.
17. Shut the car off.
18. Close the door.
19. Lock your doors so nobody steals your swag.

LoL that's pretty much it. It's very very easy but it's time consuming especially in the winter.

 
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How about a simple leak....or neglect? Either would let the thing go empty.

FTI I see plenty of cars (not just Hondas) that need the reservoirs topped off at every oil change. Skip this step a few times (Walmart, JizzyLube, et al,) and the reservoir goes completely empty.

OP: When was the last time it was properly filled? Establish the rate of consumption and look for obvious leak evidence before getting panicky.

 
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I assumed the OP means the reserve is filled to the top along with the A/C won't cool issues. Not sure.

 
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Yeeea an empty reservoir is not a definite indicator of a major problem. But, it is an indicator to bleed and fill the system properly. If it does it again relatively fast you could have something more serious on your hands

 
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I guess you missed my reply.

 
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Yea I did .. stupid firefox .. < gotta blame it on something haha. The only way the AC kicks off is if the car starts to overheat to protect the engine. Is your reservoir full or empty?

 
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Sorry for the confusion, the reserve is like bone dry, the radiator it self is filled up to the cap on the top. And the ac is like I'm driving I turn it on and the engine has like this noticeable power drain and I have to work the pedal harder to get up to speed. I know my battery needs changing, but isn't the compressor run from a belt?

 
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Then simply refill the coolant reservoir to the proper level. Keep an eye on it, see what happens.

Any automotive AC system requires several horsepower from the engine to operate the compressor. Easily felt when you have a puny engine, not so noticeable when you have a powerful engine.

BUT you sound like you have a problem with the AC, and as long as the engine is not overheating, that's a completely separate issue and should be addressed as such.

 
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Ya, smells like a leak to me too. Look under the car for a trail from a leak, hose junctions, water pump area, etc. Not completely ruling it out, but headgaskets usually puke out the overflow rather then empty it. Like was said fill it and make sure the air is out then go from there.

 
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Alrighty, thanks everyone for your help. It just got me worried that something may be wrong. One of this you fix one thing only to find another.