Hi, I drive a Masterace (surf) Diesel, I am a bit of a novice but have been taking interest in your brill site and the relative ups and downs of 'Ace ownership.

My problem is a simple one, the "Coolant Level Low" warning light came on yesterday, but I'm not sure what the next step is, where do I introduce new coolant? Do I have to drain anything and how? What sort of coolant do I need. etc:

Any help is much appreciated.

Crawford.

- (#9798) Crawford, 22 Jul 03 9:00

Crawford. You will learn much by reading the many postings which are now archived in Ace Answers but, initially, some basic understanding of the cooling system will help. As the coolant, being pumped around the engine, expands, due to the heat of the engine, some of it it has to escape somewhere and it gets pushed into the overflow or make up tank, You will see this when you lift the passenger seat up, it's a (dirty|)white plastic container just beside the engine. When the coolant, in the engine, cools down, some of the excess coolant, in the reservoir, is syphoned back into the main cooling system and, occasionally, this reservoir has to be topped up with coolant. Lift the filler cap and make sure that the tube, attached to the underside of this cap, is secure and add some antifreeze/inhibitor mix to bring the level up to or slightly beyond the high mark. Do all this when the engine is cold. The High and Low markings are on the engine side of this container and are not easy to see. Ideally you need a mixture of around 40% good quality antifreeze to water mix. The antifreeze, better known as an inhibitor, will protect the internal aluminium parts of the engine and reduce some of the inevitable corrosion. The low level warning which you are getting, is signalled from this reservoir so, keep an eye on the level, over the next few days/weeks. If the level is not maintained (some variation will be expected)get the pipework, which feeds and sucks from this reservoir, checked, because this is an important part of the cooling system. No, you don't HAVE to drain anything but, it's a good idea to drain the cooling system from time to time to remove accumulated sludge. Re-filling, very slowly, to avoid air being trapped, with a good mix of water/inhibitor, will help to avoid some of the cooling problems which seem to plague our type of vehicles.

- (#9799) John Davis, 22 Jul 03 11:33

Hello Crawford.

To check and fill the cooling system, lift the passenger seat, and just inside the engine bay is a whitish plastic bottle, with two hoses connected to the cap. This is the expansion tank. You will also notice a radiator cap between the top of the engine, and the cowling on the radiator. This is the filler neck.

Never remove the radiator cap from a hot engine. Severe scalding may result. When the engine is cold, remove the radiator cap, and fill to the top of the tube, then replace the radiator cap. Check the level of coolant in the expansion tank is between the high and low marks when cold, and place a mark on the side of the tank. This is your cold point. Start the engine and allow the temperature to reach normal. Then check the level of coolant in the expansion bottle, it should have risen slightly. Now mark the level on the side of the tank. This is your HOT point. Allow the engine to cool off. A couple of hours or more is required to allow the coolant to cool off enough to draw back most of the coolant in the expansion bottle. The longer time you allow the more coolant is drawn back. Check that the level in the expansion tank. It should have dropped from the hot point to somewhere near the cold point.

The best coolant is the red Toyota stuff, and the easiest mix is 50/50. If the car is new to you, then you should have the coolant changed some time soon. If your not sure how to do this, then best to get a mobile mechanic, or garage to do it for you.

Regards
dave Bright

- (#9800) dave Bright, 22 Jul 03 11:45

I don't know if i should start another thread or not, but i'm going to give it a go on this one. I am getting ready to change the coolant in my townie and have a couple of Q's. What is the easiest way to drain the old coolant? Can I disconnect the radiator hose and drain that way? Once I drain, should I put clear water in and run the engine for a while and drain again to flush all the old coolant out. On other cars I had i would I would take the rad cap off, start the engine and put the water hose in the rad and let it run for a while to break up any corrosion and flush the radiator. I know this is probably not the best way as I was a 16 year old teenager at the time. When I refill, can I put straight anti-freeze or is it neccessary to cut it with water.
Thanks so much for any help.
Mervin

- (#9801) mervin, 22 Jul 03 14:42

open drain tap? (right hand corner of the rad) Refill with the correct concentration to suit your environment.

Plenty info on AceAnswers...

- (#9802) david miller, 23 Jul 03 1:30

Mervin
Yes it is very necessary to cut the antifreeze. Pure antifreeze cannot absorb enough heat from the engine, and will quickly result in overheating. As Dave Miller says, follow the instructions on the bottle of antifreeze for your climate.

The easiest way to drain the coolant is to remove the drivers seat and floor, then remove the cowling round the radiator. This will give good access to the drain plug on the vertical radiator. Then open the drain on the horizontal radiator under the floor at the very front of the Townace. This will allow 90% of the coolant out. It would be worth having spare drain plug O-ring seals, as they tend to flatten over time, and fit a new Toyota thermostat whilst your at it.

Hope that helps
dave Bright

- (#9803) dave Bright, 23 Jul 03 1:57

That's the easiest way? Unless you have hands like dinner plates you can reach up from underneath and get to the stopcock on the vertical rad without removing anything. Also remember Mervin is in Moscow so would doubt that spares are readily to hand. Replace when necessary eh?

- (#9804) Ian Dunse, 23 Jul 03 10:09

Hi Ian.
When I changed my coolant I removed the drivers floor so that I could see everything and check for any tale tale signs of leaks, and inspect the hoses. I hadn't forgotten that Mervin was in Russia, I am assuming that thermostats and O-ring seals are available. Perhaps not pucker Toyota O-rings, but similar sized ones will do. Again when I did mine, they both leaked, and as it was Good Friday, it was very frustrating to have to wait till Monday to get replacements. Not so much "just in time", more "just out of time".

Dave Bright

- (#9805) dave Bright, 23 Jul 03 10:43

i dont know if this happens on other townies but raising the passenger seat on mine is a no go, unless you move the drivers seat forward, also dont forget the grey plastic retaining bit on the "b" pillar, obvious where it fits if you look under the edge of the passenger seat, grey metal bit

- (#9847) john collier, 24 Jul 03 16:44

If you have arm rests on your front seats then yes you have to move the driver seat out of the way first. Even then it can be a tight fit.
Townies without the arm rests just lift the cover up.

- (#9848) Clive, 25 Jul 03 1:21