Low coolant?95 Riviera

[songfromhaven]

Hi guys,
Recently my 95 Riviera(180k miles) has the yellow light on said ' low coolant'.
What I supposed to do?
Change coolant? Right? What kind of coolant should I use?
Can I do it at walmart?


Thank you for your help.

[sprucegoose]

You don't have to change your coolant just because the "Low Coolant" light comes on. This means the system is sensing the level in the overflow bottle is below the lower limit. You may have a leak somewhere. Like in your radiator, which I just had to replace. But it can be in may other places as well.

Have you seen coolant pudddles under the car where it has been parked, or notice the sweet smell of antifreeze? Is it wet under the hood anywhere, or on the underside of the car up front? With that many miles on the vehicle it could be a water pump, heater core, intake manifold gasket, or just a bad hose.

If you look at the overflow reservoir you should be able to see what kind of coolant it takes, and how much is left. Green fluid is standard coolant, and orange is the Dex Cool. They should not be mixed. It should be filled to the cold mark when it has been sitting for at least a half hour.

[songfromhaven]

sprucegoose,
Thank you for your answer.

I had the mechanic check after my purchase.
Here is the diagonis shown by the shop:
Transimission cooler lines are leaking
also the pressure hose leaking
valve covers gaskets leaking

I think it might be the first problem causes the coolant low light on.

Actually the coolant light on exist since I got the car but I did not pay too much attention to it since it will turn off after I start for a while.
But now it keeps on.
I am concerned if I need go to the workshop get this problem fixed.

Thanks again for your comment.

[songfromhaven]

BTW: I check the engine coolant(green) level in the morning. It is almost at the cool full level.
It is ok. Right?

[dreww]

Originally Posted by songfromhaven

sprucegoose,
Thank you for your answer.

I had the mechanic check after my purchase.
Here is the diagonis shown by the shop:
Transimission cooler lines are leaking
also the pressure hose leaking
valve covers gaskets leaking
I think it might be the first problem causes the coolant low light on.

leaking valve covers only leak oil, and its a common problem with these motors and just about any other motor with enough time and miles. Mine leaked real back until I replaced them.

what do you mean by pressure hose? a hose running to the radiator? yes, those can break easily if they are very old (i.e. stock). The transmission lines are steel, so I find it hard they are leaking. Does he mean they are leaking where they connect to the radiator? That I could believe a little more but still unlikely IMHO.