Adding coolant

[larrybarone]

What is the proper way to check coolant level and if low what is the proper way to add coolant.

[TX82FIAT]

First place to look is the coolant overflow tank to see if the coolant is up to the fill level line on the tank. I'm not sure what the coolant set up is on your year. If it is the same as mine there are instructions on how to fill the coolant. If you have a coolant T installed by the heater pipe it becomes easy to fill the coolant. The coolant T by the radiator has a brass bolt that can be used to bleed air or fill. There is a tube that hooks to the heater plate above the FI plenum that is a great place to add coolant. Again, there are a ton of posts and one with the actual owners manual instructions.

Is your car running hot? When is the last time coolant was changed?

[courtenay]

Take the radiator cap off when the engine is cool and add coolant if necessary?

[TX82FIAT]

Can't believe I left the radiator cap off the list. Guess it is one of thos things you do and done think twice about.

[larrybarone]

Of all the maintenance items I've done, I did not
Change the coolant. Who knows how old it is.
Just watched a video on you tube, not as easy
As I thought to flush and change also makes a mess.
I'm going to add coolant an run again and wait till I
Get the car on the road for a good run.
I'll get one of those vapor testers to confirm
I have a head gasket problem.
A ton of good info both on this forum and on you tube.
Don't think using Blue Devil product to plug leak
Is a good idea, could really gum and clog up the works

[TX82FIAT]

If the coolant had not been touched in some time then you will need to do that. it is smart to wait until you know what is going on with the head. When you do eventually change the coolant remember there is a coolant plug below the exhaust manifold on the block as well. The first time I changed the coolant on my previous Spider, I used a hose to flush the system and the color of the coolant that came from the block plug at first was closer to brown/orange than neon for a few seconds.