How to check your car’s coolant: Toyota service tips

Do you know how to check your car coolant levels?

Things get hot here in Central Florida – our summer and even our spring and fall can see temperatures going into the 80s and beyond. Your car is already working hard to stay cool; everything going on under the hood causes heat, and this is especially true if you’re driving at high speeds or over long distances. The harder your car works, the harder it has to work to stay cool. And hot weather only exacerbates the situation, making it even harder for your car to keep cool when you’re on the move. That’s where car coolant comes in!

Why is car coolant so essential?

Car coolant circulates through the engine and removes heat by absorbing it and transporting it out. It can also serve as a preventative to freezing (not like we need to worry about that here) – the chemicals in it help to keep things running when the weather drops below freezing, too. So what happens when you run out of car coolant? According to our Orlando Toyota service techs, you run the risk of your car overheating pretty quickly. This can cause permanent and expensive damage to your head gasket, your engine block, and even cause pieces of the engine to melt or the engine to seize altogether. These can all lead to pricey auto repairs or even the need for a replacement engine.

So, in order to avoid these issues, it’s essential to ensure that your car has the proper amount of coolant at all times. An easy way to achieve this is to stay on a routine Toyota service schedule at our Orlando auto service center. Our techs can let you know when you’re due for more coolant and they’ll check it every time you come in for service to ensure the level is where it needs to be. If you prefer to DIY your auto service, though, you can easily check car coolant yourself. Check out these tips from our Orlando Toyota service experts on how to do it:

1. Locate the coolant reservoir tank. Its location is different based on your vehicle, but usually, it’s easy to find. You can look on the outside to see if the car coolant reaches the “full” line, or you can remove the cap to actually look inside the reservoir and check the level. If it falls below the line, you need more. Wait until your car has cooled down to add it to the system.

2. Check the radiator. Trust us, it’s much easier to check car coolant levels by looking in the reservoir. However, if you really feel the need to check via the radiator, here’s how. First, make sure the car is OFF and COOLED DOWN. You should never, ever open the radiator when the engine is hot – it can spray scalding coolant on you and cause serious injury. The safest bet is to let the car cool off overnight before trying to open the radiator cap. When you do unscrew it, take a peek – the coolant level should be up to the neck of the radiator. If it’s low or you can’t see it, you need more coolant.

Call Toyota of Orlando for assistance

Have questions? Our Toyota service experts are here to help. Call us at (407) 298-4500 or stop by and see us at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall.