Radiator Water level + Antifreeze question

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Ockie

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Hello guys. Just out of interest...how often do you top up your water for your radiator? Also, how important is antifreeze and how do I put it in? I saw you can buy anti freese...but not sure where you pour it in? I am assuming straight into the water bottle thing for your radiator?
 
I never top up mine(except when flushing it out and replacing with new coolant every 50000kms, so not often at all) as it never needs topping up and it shouldn't need topping up... its a closed system the water is suppose to circulate not disappear ie leak.

If there's a leak replace the leaking water pipe or the cracked radiator. The antifreeze goes into the radiator water bottle yes. The antifreeze keeps the water from freezing and evaporating just like it says on the bottle.
 
Be careful of just sommer adding antifreeze though... Make sure you use the same one your manufacturer uses, mixing them may not be good. If you ARE topping up, mix up a 50% mix of water and antifreeze and top up with that.
 
Yeah, always easier to just flush the whole system and redo everything. The ratio is also quite important so it's much easier if you're just doing the whole thing.
 
Tnx guys. Just spoke to a guy here at work that works on cars part time. He said I will know if I need anti freesee if my water is clear. Apparently it needs to be a certain colour...VW he says is normally green he thinks. My water looks clear. Maybe that is why I need to top up every now and again...cause my anti freeze is gone? He said he will do it for me rather cause you should drain the whole system and then get about 2L of anti freeze in there. He said he will do it for me for about R200.00
 
It won't be disappearing because of lack of antifreeze. You have a leak somewhere.

Make sure if he's draining the system that he does a good flush too.

VW antifreeze is orange...
 
What car do you drive ocleroux? It's really not a tough operation to do by yourself. Really amounts to emptying, flushing and pouring. But if you're worried about a leak (how often are you topping up? Like Sinbad says, you shouldn't really be topping up.) could be worthwhile - just make sure everything is done right :D

MY VW antifreeze in the old Golf IV was green :D The Yaris is pink so it varies.
 
Here is some info on antifreeze for you.

I have been using it in my car for years.We buy it in 20lt drums for work so i always have some when i need.Also buy the 50/50 premix, because the ratio of water antifreeze is at the right mix.The colour of these ones is Blue.You can get it from any supplier of Fleetguard Filters.

http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/pdfs/product_lit/americas_brochures/LT15108.pdf
 
ocleroux said:
Tnx guys. Just spoke to a guy here at work that works on cars part time. He said I will know if I need anti freesee if my water is clear. Apparently it needs to be a certain colour...VW he says is normally green he thinks. My water looks clear. Maybe that is why I need to top up every now and again...cause my anti freeze is gone? He said he will do it for me rather cause you should drain the whole system and then get about 2L of anti freeze in there. He said he will do it for me for about R200.00
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What? They did it for me at Engine yesterday for nothing. I just spent R65 buying the anti-freeze and about a R5 tip :)
 
AntiThesis said:
What car do you drive ocleroux? It's really not a tough operation to do by yourself. Really amounts to emptying, flushing and pouring. But if you're worried about a leak (how often are you topping up? Like Sinbad says, you shouldn't really be topping up.) could be worthwhile - just make sure everything is done right :D

MY VW antifreeze in the old Golf IV was green :D The Yaris is pink so it varies.
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Awww...now I want a Yaris!!!! :(

mmm I maybe like top up once a month or so. I will rather take it to the guy. I dont even know how to get the water out of there anyways. Besides...I already hate it when my hands get dirty when I need to top up the water....so this is just a no no for me to do myself. :-)
 
ocleroux said:
But did they drain the whole thing and flush it etc like the guys here say?
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You do know its as easy as disconnecting the little pipe and it all drains out right? 2minutes and you're done.
 
Vegeta said:
You do know its as easy as disconnecting the little pipe and it all drains out right? 2minutes and you're done.
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But that will just drain the reservoir cause it is high up in the engine...what about the radiator etc?

I think it would be best if somone that knows what they doing drains my pipe.
 
You do it by disconnecting the bottom radiator hose... but you need something to catch the coolant in.

I'm not touching your pipe dude... ;)
 
if you drive a vw, you do not add tap water, only G11 or G12, if concentrate distilled water half mixed with concentrate.
 
ocleroux said:
But that will just drain the reservoir cause it is high up in the engine...what about the radiator etc?

I think it would be best if somone that knows what they doing drains my pipe.
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Houston we have a no go on draining your pipe :D

What made you start this topic today, funny thing dude at my office came to ask me same question as you
 
Sinbad said:
You do it by disconnecting the bottom radiator hose... but you need something to catch the coolant in.

I'm not touching your pipe dude... ;)
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Eish...just read that post of mine again and see what it must have looked like haha....that was not on purpose...was talking on the phone to a client and typing at the same time. Guess it does how what goes on in my mind..concious or unconcious lol.
 
Okay the big pipe then i didn't mean the tiiiiiiiny pipe next to the reservoir. Well its more a medium sized pipe... but enough about pipes already!!
 
ocleroux said:
But that will just drain the reservoir cause it is high up in the engine...what about the radiator etc?

I think it would be best if somone that knows what they doing drains my pipe.
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Who was the cute guy you got to sort out your power steering fluid? I'm sure he will happily drain your pipe - and I promise you can use the pink fluid it is so much nicer. ;) :p
 
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