So, I bought some new DRL LED's and thought I'd install tonight. Honestly I don't get under the hood very often, so I removed all the plastic covers, and when I went to move the coolant reservoir I notice its bone dry. The car is still hot, only been sitting a few minutes so I haven't checked the radiator, but before I get too nutty about it figured I'd ask you guys if this is normal. My car's temp gauge never goes above halfway even when driving naughty. Do I need to stop by the dealer tomorrow?

 

If your dealership is too far, yes, you should see them.
1. For them to see the empty reservoir and find a problem, is there is one. And have Acura pay for it as a warranty issue.
2. To have them fill the reservoir tank with the correct coolant.
3. At the very least, to get a jug of coolant to do yourself.

My guess is you have a bad radiator cap.

 

running the AC can really drain the coolant levels, i was really low by the end of the summer myself. and with this warm fall were having, i found myself using the air conditioner a little bit more. nothing has to be wrong with the car. just make sure you buy the proper fluid from the Acura dealership. mixing something like prestone 50/50 coolant and the acura fluid can cause the fluid to congeal and clog up your radiator.

 

Thanks, I just popped the cap and the radiator is full, but nothing drained back into the reservoir over night. Think I'll start with getting some coolant from the local honda dealer and see if it stays in there a few days before contacting the Acura shop

 

a full coolant reservoir that drains is the sign of a coolant leak in the system. Your coolant system is closed and coolant should not escape.

 

^
???...NO

OP, not a big issue. The cooling system is closed within the main system. Res tank is not closed system with pressure. The res tank is for overflow. The fluid in the res tank probably just eventually evaporated away. If you wish go buy some Acura 0L999-0901A Type 2 Blue Coolant and fil it up to the line. Otherwise ask them to check the system at your next service.

 

Thanks Marco, that's exactly what I did last night after work. I don't have an Acura dealer nearby, so stopped in at Honda. They said it was perfectly normal for the reservoir to be empty. The radiator is full. I did buy some coolant to be on the safe side and did fill to the minimum line this morning.

 

No, multiple times with emtpy reservoir syndrome, there were coolant leaks in my vehicles; usually from lose hoses, once from the radiator. I've never been in any modern car where the overflow tank actually overflows out of the tank. It is not normal for coolant to keep disappearing from the overflow tank.

 

^^^^^

Which vehicles ? Infiniti's or Acura's ?

 

for what its worth the level in the reservoir hasn't changed since I added fluid, so thinking I don't have any leaks to worry about

 

Neither. Toyota, Subaru, Jeep. When the coolant reservoir empties regularly it's the sign of an issue. Very infrequently probably not.

 

Calling the coolant reservoir an overflow tank instead, suggests the it works only in one direction....out.
The reason the radiator cap has a pressure rating is so that when the radiator is full and the coolant expands with heating, it will open up at the rated pressure to allow the hot coolant to move to the coolant reservoir. Then, as the coolant in the system cools, it is drawn back into the radiator, until it is cool enough that the radiator cap shuts. This system is meant to keep as much air out of the system and max. coolant in as possible, which allows it to run more effective. Air in the system disturbs flow, and does not absorb heat nearly as well. In order for the coolant to be drawn back into the radiator, the coolant reservoir needs to have the minimum coolant level maintained so the hose that enters the bottom of the reservoir can pull coolant back, not air.
I live in Texas where it is warmer than most places, and I have never had a coolant reservoir level go empty, even on cars that I didn't care for as I should have.

 

^Aaand what are you driving? Why do you have a Cayman in your avatar if you own a TL?




Back for more?

Sometimes we (you) get it wrong. It's hard to diagnose issues over the interwebs. But this is 4G TL, not Toyo, not Subie, and NOT Jeep.





There might be a multitude of reasons why the tank is empty, however an empty tank doesn't mean there are issues with the coolant system. I would recommend you all monitor your own fliud levels and see what happens, then report back to us your detailed findings, notes with ambient outdoor temperaturies prefered.

 

I believe Little Gator's explanation is completely correct and the same principle applies to almost all new vehicles.
My cars have experienced small losses from the reservoir over time without any serious issues in the system. It's hot under the hood; I expect there is some evaporation from the plastic reservoir.

 

Because it looks good, is my favorite car, and because I drive twice as much as my TL. To post a photo of another TL would not be showing anything new to other readers. Plus, I have no photo of myself prancing around in a Trazan cloth.

 

Little Gator is spot on. I guess the plastic tank could actually have a leak, but I think you would know it.

 

That's "JuiceManJr", the god of the grape, handing out his necter to children.
When is the last time either one of you actually took the plastic engine cover off and looked at your own coolant levels?

 

I don't think he knows anything about his system. In fact here's a quote:

 

I used to do my own maintenance: thermostat, pcv, refrigerant, coolant flush, plugs, rotate tires, oil change and filter, etc. So I do know my way around the engine bay and every week, check the oil and overflow tank.

 

I have a question about coolant. My car is currently at the dealership, and one of the the things they recommended was the coolant replaced. I believed he said the level was low, but then he said it should be replaced. From searching on the forums, it seems this is not needed until approx 110K. Is that correct? If that's the case, shouldn't it just be topped off it's low? btw... I'm at approx 40K. Sorry for the thread jack. Thx

 

Mr. Marco,

Please read my statement again that you reposted;

At how many miles on the odometer have TL owners seen the dash minder tell them it is time to change the coolant?
I have no idea of when it should be changed. Every 2 years? 3 years? 5 years?

Yes, that question was posted by me, and I still mean every bit it. I have posted a number of times that I don't like that Acura does not provide any kind of written time/milage schedule for preforming manintance. It instead expects us to completely rely on the MID display to tell us when it thinks we should do the tasks. Because no schedule is provided, I still have no idea when to expect the MID to remind me that per Acura's secret schedule that I SHOULD change it. Does this mean I will wait for Acura? No. Does this mean I have no idea of what is a typical change interval used by other car mfg's who do print their schedule in their owner's manual? No. Does it mean I will wait until their is a problem with my coolant system, before doing some service on it? No. To the contrary. I (not the dealer) changed the coolant before the MID display and its' secret schedule would have me do it. I was just asking others when they were getting their reminder so I could compare it to see just how "early" I did my own service.

And don't take this wrong. This is not a beef with anyone but Acura.

 

I just call it as I read it.

Perhaps you should read OP's statement about what Honda dealer said again...

 

Pretty sure the coolant should be good for 4 years.
It's not like the old days. The engines used to be very dirty from the mfr and the coolant capacity was huge. Now the engines are clean from the get go and the capacity is much smaller.