Honda Civic (2001 - 2005) Coupe / Sedan / Hybrid (Includes Acura EL)

Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ? UPDATE

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Old May 9, 2009 | 03:39 PM
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wangan's Avatar
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Default Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ? UPDATE

Is it normal ?
Rad is full, no over heating.
Absolutely no problems whatsoever.
Been driving car like this for over a year.

Last edited by wangan; May 16, 2009 at 05:13 AM.
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Old May 9, 2009 | 03:47 PM
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TOO MUCH TORQUE's Avatar
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

probably during the coolant flush, whoever did it, didnt top off as the air bubbles were rising

Last edited by TOO MUCH TORQUE; May 9, 2009 at 04:42 PM.
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Old May 9, 2009 | 03:49 PM
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wangan's Avatar
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

So what do I do.

Add a little prestone till its between min and max ?
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Old May 9, 2009 | 03:50 PM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

Normal, just top it off to the cold line when it's cold and keep on eye on it for a couple of weeks.

Remember 50/50 mix.
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Old May 9, 2009 | 03:54 PM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

Cool im gonna buy some Honda Anti-Freeze that is pre-mixed...but i dont have a cold line just a min and a max...should i fill it till its in between?

Thanks guys
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Old May 9, 2009 | 04:00 PM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

Originally Posted by wangan
Cool im gonna buy some Honda Anti-Freeze that is pre-mixed...but i dont have a cold line just a min and a max...should i fill it till its in between?

Thanks guys
It's almost always better to buy straight antifreeze. Mixed often costs more, and you're getting less. It's basically like buying watered down coke. Distilled water is really cheap and some say you can even just use good tap water if your area doesn't have a lot of minerals for 50/50 mix

I beleive the cold line is in the radiator? It's the lip in the radiator at the top
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Old May 9, 2009 | 04:01 PM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

Originally Posted by stevenDAtegra
It's almost always better to buy straight antifreeze. Mixed often costs more, and you're getting less. It's basically like buying watered down coke. Distilled water is really cheap and some say you can even just use good tap water if your area doesn't have a lot of minerals for 50/50 mix

I beleive the cold line is in the radiator? It's the lip in the radiator at the top
Yeah but my rad is already full.

Thanks
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Old May 9, 2009 | 04:33 PM
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1992Si's Avatar
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

I would go to the min line and watch it for a couple days when it cold and hot.

They say you can leave tap water out in a bucket over night and it's ok to use use it as the mix if you have hard water, IDK, that's what I heard years ago.

I've alway's just used my water out of the tap. I have well water and it's not hard.

Either way, I don't think it really makes a difference. There's enough lub in good anti-freeze. Do you plan on keeping the car forever and never replacing the water pump...
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Old May 9, 2009 | 04:41 PM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

you will be able to get by with just distilled water. i flushed mine with 50/50, ran out of that and just filled the rest with distilled water(1/2 gallon)
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Old May 9, 2009 | 05:12 PM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

Can i mix my green coolant with the new blue type 2 coolant honda has ?
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Old May 9, 2009 | 05:31 PM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

^yea that's fine.
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Old May 9, 2009 | 09:56 PM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

try water wetter people say that stuff works pretty good but since your in the process give it a try
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Old May 16, 2009 | 05:10 AM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

Okay guys I filled my reservoir between the max and min line.
Put about 350ml in it...now after 40 miles it dropped to min level.

WTF is wrong ?
Car is not overheating nor is it leaking.

Thanks
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Old May 16, 2009 | 05:51 AM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ?

Originally Posted by wangan
Okay guys I filled my reservoir between the max and min line.
Put about 350ml in it...now after 40 miles it dropped to min level.

WTF is wrong ?
Car is not overheating nor is it leaking.

Thanks
It's probably burning it then. Possible headgasket leak.
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Old May 16, 2009 | 03:45 PM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ? UPDATE

I don't know if you have changed you coolant lately but the drain plug on the radiator is plastic so it can be easily damaged or cracked over time. You said it's not leaking so It's probably not that but you might want to look at it just to be sure I always like to double check things. But if it's not leaking and It's still disappearing matt is probably right it must be being burnt off.
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Old May 17, 2009 | 05:30 AM
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wangan's Avatar
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ? UPDATE

Could it be happening because my heater core and my ac compressor weren't 100% full.

Car has 44K can it really be the headgasket at such a low mileage ?

Thanks
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Old May 17, 2009 | 08:55 AM
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Default Re: Why is my overflow tank empty when engine is cold ? UPDATE

Originally Posted by wangan
Could it be happening because my heater core and my ac compressor weren't 100% full.

Car has 44K can it really be the headgasket at such a low mileage ?

Thanks
Headgaskets can blow at any time, for almost no reason at times.
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