Help Please...

Stevi

Stevi

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Hi Guys,

So I filled up with petrol on Saturday and asked the attendant to please check the oil and water.
Oil level was fine and I saw him pouring water in.
Yesterday when I tried to clean my windscreen while driving no water came out. So I wandered where the water he put in went.

Upon inspection I found that he had filled my coolant tank to the brim with water.
So it is now filled with a diluted coolant.

My question is what I should do now regarding the fluid (Draining, refilling, etc.).
As I was driving Saturday, Monday and Today, there has been no warning lights or over heating but I would like to sort it out.

Thanks for the help.
 
Stevi said:
Hi Guys,

So I filled up with petrol on Saturday and asked the attendant to please check the oil and water.
Oil level was fine and I saw him pouring water in.
Yesterday when I tried to clean my windscreen while driving no water came out. So I wandered where the water he put in went.

Upon inspection I found that he had filled my coolant tank to the brim with water.
So it is now filled with a diluted coolant.

My question is what I should do now regarding the fluid (Draining, refilling, etc.).
As I was driving Saturday, Monday and Today, there has been no warning lights or over heating but I would like to sort it out.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

No need to replace it.

However if you are like me and want coolant in it only: There should be a drain plug at the bottom of the radiator. Just unscrew it and let it drain. Once drained fill up with coolant. If no drain plug, remove the bottom hose from the radiator. Coolant in the engine should also drip out. Should not be a problem though.
 
Pitbull said:
No need to replace it.

However if you are like me and want coolant in it only: There should be a drain plug at the bottom of the radiator. Just unscrew it and let it drain. Once drained fill up with coolant. If no drain plug, remove the bottom hose from the radiator. Coolant in the engine should also drip out. Should not be a problem though.
Click to expand...

Thanks,
How much coolant will I need about (Opel Corsa Lite 2008)?
 
Also is it safe to leave the coolant level so high? It's filled right to the top ,jml.jpg
 
Stevi said:
Also is it safe to leave the coolant level so high? It's filled right to the top View attachment 168159
Click to expand...

What car is it? I remember people having issues with those bottle type of water holders in the older Golfs. It used to burst, which I assume was due to over filling and pressure from the heat. Does it have a full level marker?
 
Dunno why you are worried about him adding water, the bit of water is insignificant to the volume held in the radiator, hoses & engine.

If the reservoir is overfilled you can simply syphon off a bit.
 
Pitbull said:
No need to replace it.

However if you are like me and want coolant in it only: There should be a drain plug at the bottom of the radiator. Just unscrew it and let it drain. Once drained fill up with coolant. If no drain plug, remove the bottom hose from the radiator. Coolant in the engine should also drip out. Should not be a problem though.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that on some cars you need to bleed the coolant system to purge it of trapped air, something you don't want.
 
ponder said:
Dunno why you are worried about him adding water, the bit of water is insignificant to the volume held in the radiator, hoses & engine.
Click to expand...

It's petty I know. I'm the same, I don't like water in my engine. If I do a long trip and it needs topping-up, I replace the coolant when I get home. Always picture these old water radiators with that brown colour water and rust when you drain it. Just doesn't look good for the maintenance of the vehicle. That being said, should not cause a problem at all.
 
Pitbull said:
What car is it? I remember people having issues with those bottle type of water holders in the older Golfs. It used to burst, which I assume was due to over filling and pressure from the heat. Does it have a full level marker?
Click to expand...

It's a 2008 Opel Corsa Lite. The full level mark is right in the middle of the tank where the lip part is.
 
ponder said:
Keep in mind that on some cars you need to bleed the coolant system to purge it of trapped air, something you don't want.
Click to expand...

It's very dependant on the vehicle I suppose. Running the engine with cold coolant and waiting for it to warm up should force the air out if the thermostat opens. Then just top up and close? Always been my experience, but I have never driven or serviced there top end Mercs and BMW's as an example. So I suppose you're right.
 
Thanks guys. Would just rather be on the safe side. Will syphon some out to get it back to the full marker.
 
ponder said:
Dunno why you are worried about him adding water, the bit of water is insignificant to the volume held in the radiator, hoses & engine.

If the reservoir is overfilled you can simply syphon off a bit.
Click to expand...

This is the most sensible advice.
 
Stevi said:
It's a 2008 Opel Corsa Lite. The full level mark is right in the middle of the tank where the lip part is.
Click to expand...

Maybe just drain it to the level indicator. But as Ponder said, the water should have 0 effect on the coolant. Rouxenator is the Opel man here, maybe he can comment on the level, but I won't over fill it. It should have a small return pipe at the top and if it's filled to the brim it will cause problems with prolonged use I suppose.
 
ponder said:
Dunno why you are worried about him adding water, the bit of water is insignificant to the volume held in the radiator, hoses & engine.

If the reservoir is overfilled you can simply syphon off a bit.
Click to expand...

This.
 
I would just drive it. There is a pressure release on the radiator cap, and as the water heats up and expands it will be forced out the system till it settles at a level around the max mark.
 
Let this be a lesson to you to never let petrol attendants do anything under your bonnet.
 
DanH said:
Let this be a lesson to you to never let petrol attendants do anything under your bonnet.
Click to expand...

+1

OP, also, just drain some out for peace of mind.

In the future, check your own car's oil & water. It is easy enough. You are the one that drives your car, not them.
 
We've had this discussion before but I can't be arsed to find that thread now.

For those of you running 100% antifreeze why do you do it?

Pure antifreeze has about 30% less heat transfer capability than water so in warm conditions your cooling system will be less efficient.

Pure antifreeze freezes at a higher temperature than when mixed with water.

The additives in antifreeze need water to stay suspended else they settle.

Just follow the manufacturers recommendations when it comes to the ratio but in most cases it's 50/50 unless you live in a VERY cold place. The two components are designed to work better together.

EDIT:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...Overheating!?p=7672097&viewfull=1#post7672097
The way I see it is antifreeze only benefits you wrt corosion & lubrication (assuming you live in a place where it does not get cold enough for water to freeze). Pure water will run a few degrees cooler than pure antifreeze but pure antifreeze also wont make the temps shoot through the roof and seize your engine.

People running rotax engines for light aircraft for example can see noticeable differences in engine temps based on how much antifreeze they use but then again they have pretty small radiators as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylene_glycol#Coolant_and_heat_transfer_agent
Pure ethylene glycol has a specific heat capacity about one half that of water. So, while providing freeze protection and an increased boiling point, ethylene glycol lowers the specific heat capacity of water mixtures relative to pure water. A 50/50 mix by mass has a specific heat capacity of about 0.75 BTU/lb F, thus requiring increased flow rates in same system comparisons with water. Additionally, the increase in boiling point over pure water inhibits nucleate boiling on heat transfer surfaces thus reducing heat transfer efficiency in some cases, such as gasoline engine cylinder walls. Therefore, pure ethylene glycol should not be used as an engine coolant in most cases.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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