Check engine light
HotPeppers
10-22-2012, 01:23 PM
So today my check engine light came on. Went to autozone they pulled up low coolant. Now how low does it need to be to trip that sensor? I was about a 1.5" down from the cold fill line. Thats my first question
Next is it has dex cool and have about 130k miles on it. After reading around i heard dex cause intake gasket damage. So should i flush it? If yes how do i go about doing a full flush?
I also read it could gunk up, now ive had the car for almost 4 years and ive never changed the coolant nor do i know the person before me did. So is gunk a possibility. Thanks! :smooch:
Next is it has dex cool and have about 130k miles on it. After reading around i heard dex cause intake gasket damage. So should i flush it? If yes how do i go about doing a full flush?
I also read it could gunk up, now ive had the car for almost 4 years and ive never changed the coolant nor do i know the person before me did. So is gunk a possibility. Thanks! :smooch:
GTP Dad
10-22-2012, 05:30 PM
Welcome to AF!!
1.5 inches seems to be about right especially below the cold fill line. As for the coolant flush if you are close to the 5 year mark on the coolant a good flush won't hurt anything. Although I would recommend that you have it done by a professional. Because of the toxic nature of the coolant a good coolant recovery system is essential to preventing environmental contamination. I would also recommend that they replace the coolant with Prestone long life antifreeze and forget the dex cool. The prestone is much better and won't cause the issues that he Dex will cause.
As for the gunk you will usually see it in the reservoir or at the bottom of the cap. It usually only forms where there is come contact with air.
1.5 inches seems to be about right especially below the cold fill line. As for the coolant flush if you are close to the 5 year mark on the coolant a good flush won't hurt anything. Although I would recommend that you have it done by a professional. Because of the toxic nature of the coolant a good coolant recovery system is essential to preventing environmental contamination. I would also recommend that they replace the coolant with Prestone long life antifreeze and forget the dex cool. The prestone is much better and won't cause the issues that he Dex will cause.
As for the gunk you will usually see it in the reservoir or at the bottom of the cap. It usually only forms where there is come contact with air.
thephantom1492
10-22-2012, 05:35 PM
The light should turn off immediatelly. However it'S common for the float to stick. Hit the tank gently with a screwdriver handle near the wire harness, that should unstick the float.
I wouln't recommand a flush, specially if there is no actual issue. If so, then fix the issue first, then do what you have to do.
People complain alot about dexcool, mainly because of some idiots that mix dexcool (yellow) with "prestone", the green (old) one. The 2 are incompatible chemically, and then cause a mess if mixed. People mixed them, then blamed the manufacturer to make it incompatible on purpose, which of course is false... Sadly, people still think it's true...
As to replace the coolant, I couln't find any official recommendation to replace it. Garages love to steal people's money.
Also, bleeding is a real problem if you have the 6 cylinder... A real challenge.
I wouln't recommand a flush, specially if there is no actual issue. If so, then fix the issue first, then do what you have to do.
People complain alot about dexcool, mainly because of some idiots that mix dexcool (yellow) with "prestone", the green (old) one. The 2 are incompatible chemically, and then cause a mess if mixed. People mixed them, then blamed the manufacturer to make it incompatible on purpose, which of course is false... Sadly, people still think it's true...
As to replace the coolant, I couln't find any official recommendation to replace it. Garages love to steal people's money.
Also, bleeding is a real problem if you have the 6 cylinder... A real challenge.
HotPeppers
10-22-2012, 07:36 PM
Well my car hasnt gone past the 200F mark so im hoping i dont have tapped air bubbles
Tech II
10-23-2012, 05:06 PM
There is a code for low coolant? Since when?
Did you fix the leak? Otherwise, you still have a problem......
Did you fix the leak? Otherwise, you still have a problem......
HotPeppers
10-23-2012, 05:21 PM
Well i put more coolant in last night. Drove to work today and bam the light went off. Now if it comes back on (which i hope it doesnt) Then i guess i will have to find out where the leak is
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