March 05, 2025
Coolant plays a major role in cars, and maintaining the optimum balance is quite a challenge. Did you overfill coolant in your car by mistake? Well, let us say that both situations can result in adverse consequences, whether it is too much or too little.
In this situation, you must not panic and take the necessary proactive measures to address the issue. But before that, you need to understand a lot about coolant and its role in your car cooling system. Well, you are in luck because this blog is here to help you understand what you can do in these situations, so let’s dive in!
How Does A Car’s Cooling System Work?
Before you understand the importance of coolant in a car, you need to understand how a cooling system works. The cooling system in your car is not one but multiple components working together to keep the car cool.
The system includes a water pump, a radiator, and a thermostat. The primary role of coolant for cars is to provide a safe environment by cooling the engine down. This is very important when you use the car for extended periods to maintain the right temperature.
When you sit behind the wheel and rev your car, the engine automatically heats. This heat is a result of the friction of air molecules within the cylinders. The combustion process within the cylinder also contributes to increased heat.
This is where the car’s cooling system steps in to keep the car’s engine from overheating. You cannot oversell the significance of this, considering the right temperature is a must for proper engine function.
What Is The Right Coolant Level for Your Car?
It should come as no surprise that different cars have different engines and, hence, require different coolant levels. The best you can do is refer to the manufacturer’s guide to understand the appropriate level for your car.
If you don’t have the necessary manual, you can use a dipstick to measure the engine coolant level. This will help determine if your car’s engine needs more radiator coolant for seamless functioning.
There are a couple of different factors that determine the appropriate coolant level for your car. This means you have to consider the car type, engine size, the ratio of antifreeze to water within the mixture, and the ambient temperature. These factors directly or indirectly affect the amount of heat the engine generates, making it important that you are well aware of them.
What Actually Happens When You Overfill Coolant in Your Car?
Well, in simple terms, when you overfill coolant in your car, the consequences can be quite severe. The first thing that can happen in this case is an issue with the hydrolock. This happens when there is more liquid in the engine block than needed. It will prevent seamless circulation, and this is not something you want in your car’s engine.
What will happen as a result of this is the lack of lubrication and cooling water in certain areas of the engine. This will prevent the engine from functioning optimally and eventually lead to issues like overheating, which causes permanent damage.
The other potential consequence when you overfill radiators with coolant is pressure buildup. This happens when too much liquid sits in one place for too long. Its weight will result in expansion just as you see bubbles rising through soda.
This might result in issues like cracks in plastic parts or blown-out hoses. When left unchecked for a long time, this overfill radiator coolant can result in an unanticipated explosion. But the good thing here is that you can take many effective measures to ensure these things don’t happen with your car.
Potential Signs of Overfill Coolant in Your Car
Determining if your car has the right amount of coolant is not always easy. Thankfully, there are certain signs that you can look for to prevent the need for a car cooling system repair Perth.
The first sign is the engine overheating for no apparent reason. If this happens to your car, waste no time and turn the engine off immediately. Let the engine sit for about fifteen minutes before starting it again. If the overheating issue persists, rush for a Perth auto repair shop without wasting any time.
Another common sign that should not go unnoticed is coolant leaking from bottom of car. Either this or you might notice unusual sounds coming from underneath the vehicle. This is an indication that overfill coolant is causing some damage to the internal components of the engine block or the radiator itself.
What to Do In Case of Overfill Coolant By Error?
Our mistakes make us human. But this also means we need to take swift action to address these issues. So here are some of the things that you need to keep in mind when dealing with an overfill coolant situation:
1. Avoid Panicking
First things first, panicking is the worst thing you can do when dealing with a car with overfilled antifreeze or coolant. Panicking does no good in terms of addressing the situation and can potentially make things even worse.
2. Let the Engine Cool Down
The next thing you need to do is let the car’s engine cool down. Shut down the car’s engine and give it some time to cool down. Never make the mistake of working on the car’s cooling system while the engine is hot. This is important for ensuring you don’t get any burns from the car’s hot coolant.
3. Find the Coolant Reservoir
Most cars you see have a coolant reservoir on the engine bay’s left side. So open the car’s engine bay and find the translucent plastic container with maximum and minimum level markings. Then, you need to check the coolant level and determine if it is actually higher than recommended.
4. Get Rid of the Excess Coolant
Now that you are certain that your car has more coolant than it needs, it is time to get rid of the excess. There are a couple of different ways you can do without paying for the radiator flush cost, and these ways include:
– Use a Syringe:
As basic as it may sound, using a syringe is a genuine way to get rid of excess coolant. You can even use a turkey baster alternatively to siphon the excess coolant. Just insert the syringe into the reservoir properly and extract the liquid slowly and carefully.
– Use a Clean Hose and Container:
If you cannot find a baster or syringe, you can always use a clean and flexible hose and containers. The simple logic here is to insert one end of the hose into the reservoir and the other into the container. Then, you need to create a suction and remove the coolant from the reservoir without need of any car radiator repair Perth.
– Loosening the Drain Plug:
If you are well-versed in your car’s working mechanism, you can loosen the drain plug to extract coolant. But first, you must determine if your coolant reservoir has a drain plug and then loosen it carefully. You must practice caution while following this approach, as the coolant’s pressure might harm you.
5. Dispose of the Coolant Properly
The final thing you need to do after draining the overfilled coolant is to dispose of the liquid properly. Keep in mind that this is a hazardous material, and draining it is not good for the environment. Depending on availability, you can reach out to a reliable car mechanic Perth or a recycling centre.
Conclusion
Coolant plays a very important role in keeping your car running. Anything wrong with the coolant level could result in something minor, like the car AC not cooling, or something severe, like engine damage.
This makes it important to do your best to ensure you don’t overfill coolant and always maintain the appropriate levels. If the deed is already done, follow the steps mentioned above to fix the issue and get your car running smoothly again.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What happens when I drive after overfilling coolant?
When there is more coolant than needed, pressure buildup will automatically occur in the cooling system. Leaving this unchecked could result in leaks and damages and even complete radiator failure in certain cases.
Q2. Is it fine to leave extra coolant in the reservoir?
Leaving extra coolant in the reservoir can result in pressure buildup and potentially damage different car components.
Q3. How do I know if my car has the appropriate coolant level?
One simple way to determine if your car has the appropriate coolant level is by checking its level on the reservoir. If the liquid’s level exceeds the max mark, there is more coolant than needed.
Q4. Is coolant hazardous?
Yes, coolant is a hazardous material, making it important that you practice caution when dealing with the liquid in one way or the other.
Q5. What do I do if coolant spills on my car’s engine?
If coolant spills in your car’s engine, you must use a damp cloth to clean it up quickly. Always do your best to ensure that coolant does not fall on any of the car’s painter surfaces.