V70 T5 2001 COOLANT TANK WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY

thornockfamily · Post by **thornockfamily** » 21 Feb 2010, 08:37

A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT MY V70 T5, I STARTED IT AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON RED AND SAID “STOP ENGINE IMMEDIATELY” AND THE MESSAGE SAID THAT MY ENGING COOLANT WAS EMPTY. I ASSUMED THAT THE DEALER TOPED OFF THE COOLANT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. AND THAT THE MECHANIC WHO DID MY OIL CHANGE AND TOPED MY FLUIDS WOULD HAVE DONE THE COOLANT ALSO. WHEN I CHECKED IT ….. THERE WAS NOTHING IN IT. I WAS SHOCKED. HAVING PAID 9,000 DOLLARS IN CASH FOR IT JUST A WEEK AGO, LEAVES ME IN A TOUGH SPOT TO HAVE SOMETHING HORRIBLE TO GO WRONG! I FILLED IT AND CHECKED IT EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK, EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS BELOW THE “MIN” LINE. IT HAD ONLY BEEN A MAX OF 36 HOURS SINCE I CHECKED IT LAST AND I DIDN’T DRIVE IT ANY DIFFERENT OR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE IVE HAD IT. NEVER SEE ANY LEAKS AND NEVER HAPPENS IN CORRILATION WITH ANYTHING ELSE. RECENTLY THOUGH, THE COOLANT HAS ONLY GONE DOWN SLIGHTLY EVERY WEEK OR SO. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERES A PROBLEM. I DON’T THINK THAT’S NORMAL IS IT????

otis44 · Post by **otis44** » 21 Feb 2010, 10:41

Check all of your hose clamps, associated hoses and look your radiator over as best you can. All cars will use a little fluid over time, but not in two days or whatever. Many leaks won't be big enough to show up on the ground and the coolant from the leak will blow away or dissipate when driving. If you can't find an obvious leak keep it topped up and drive it enough to be sure it just wasn't terribly low for whatever reason when you got the car. If you're still using coolant I would take the car and have the cooling system pressure tested and go from there. I'm sure others can add to this.

thornockfamily · Post by **thornockfamily** » 21 Feb 2010, 11:22

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 21 Feb 2010, 17:03

Hello, "..filled it..", and, "..keep it topped up.." isn't exact enough at a time like this. When you see its low when cold, fill it to the MIN or COLD mark. When you see it's low when at operating temperature, fill it to the MAX or HOT mark. it sounds like you're burping your cooling system. Keep a jug of your coolant with you and mark the level with each addition. I'll bet it will take less and less each time, if you're not stable already. Do what otis44 says. Please keep us posted. How many miles on this car? Kira

thornockfamily · Post by **thornockfamily** » 22 Feb 2010, 01:49

Georgeandkira wrote:Hello, "..filled it..", and, "..keep it topped up.." isn't exact enough at a time like this. When you see its low when cold, fill it to the MIN or COLD mark. When you see it's low when at operating temperature, fill it to the MAX or HOT mark. it sounds like you're burping your cooling system. Keep a jug of your coolant with you and mark the level with each addition. I'll bet it will take less and less each time, if you're not stable already. Do what otis44 says. Please keep us posted. How many miles on this car? Kira

None of the clamps were loose or had any kind of leaks....Or signs that there has been a leak. Ive never heard of "burping" your coolant system! Exactely what does that mean and what usually causes that? You were right, its gone almost two weeks with out going down. And right now im worried about the surging headlights and how rough the transmission has been running. Thank you for your expertice! Im taking a trip to billings montana to get a spare key made and hopefully get new software for my tranny. You got any other ideas,, or maybe something you think would be a good thing to have done while im at the dealership??? Im all ears!