Low Coolant Already?

NewJerseyKK · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:42 pm

My 2010 with 15,000 miles is already low on coolant. About a centimeter below the minimum line. Is this normal and is it okay to just top it off with some Mopar coolant or does it need to be flushed? And is it okay to be running this low?

I dont know much about coolant or how the system works, so any info is helpful.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:37 pm

It's just the overflow tank. Coolant evaporates.

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:42 pm

You should find the leak since it should not be loosing coolant at all. I would suspect you have a leaking hose connection somewhere.

NewJerseyKK · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:00 pm

Marlon_JBT wrote:

It's just the overflow tank. Coolant evaporates.

It evaporates that quickly? Its only been 15,000 miles. Its the original factory coolant and I read somewhere about a 5 year/100,000 mile warranty with it. I dont exactly know what the warranty refers to but Im assuming that means it'll last the 5 years/100,000 miles.

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:02 pm

Marlon_JBT wrote:

It's just the overflow tank. Coolant evaporates.

Fluid should not be evaporating from a closed system.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:17 pm

WolverineFW wrote:

Marlon_JBT wrote:

It's just the overflow tank. Coolant evaporates.

Fluid should not be evaporating from a closed system.

I'd think that it would be rather easy for coolant to evaporate (mine is doing this too, along with every other KK I have seen) from an overflow bottle that is not sealed. It just has a flip cap, not too different from the same cap that secures the windshield washer fluid.

There is no warranty on coolant. The fluid should be FLUSHED at 5 years or 100,000 miles, no warranty on it. Mine has 45,000 miles and is at about the same level.

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:48 pm

Marlon_JBT wrote:

WolverineFW wrote:

Marlon_JBT wrote:

It's just the overflow tank. Coolant evaporates.

Fluid should not be evaporating from a closed system.

I'd think that it would be rather easy for coolant to evaporate (mine is doing this too, along with every other KK I have seen) from an overflow bottle that is not sealed. It just has a flip cap, not too different from the same cap that secures the windshield washer fluid.

There is no warranty on coolant. The fluid should be FLUSHED at 5 years or 100,000 miles, no warranty on it. Mine has 45,000 miles and is at about the same level.

So the KK has a traditional radiator cap on the radiator, unlike the KJ with the cap on the overflow?

NewJerseyKK · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:04 pm

WolverineFW wrote:

So the KK has a traditional radiator cap on the radiator, unlike the KJ with the cap on the overflow?

From what saw when I looked, theres both. Theres the overflow, which has the plastic cap that doesnt really seal. Then theres the hose that feeds into the radiator, which has the metal cap that seals.
I guess that very dry weather/air that weve had lately could explain the low coolant evaporation?

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:20 pm

dude, a cm missing?

youre fine :lol:

just keep an eye for little puddles or drips just in case

NewJerseyKK · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:29 pm

DirtyKK wrote:

dude, a cm missing?

youre fine :lol:

just keep an eye for little puddles or drips just in case

No. I mean the coolant is a cm below the min line, which means the reservoir is almost completely empty. If you look at the back of the plastic reservoir, there are 2 lines, a min and max line with about 4 inches between. It was completely full of coolant at one point.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:33 pm

NewJerseyKK wrote:

DirtyKK wrote:

dude, a cm missing?

youre fine :lol:

just keep an eye for little puddles or drips just in case

No. I mean the coolant is a cm below the min line, which means the reservoir is almost completely empty. If you look at the back of the plastic reservoir, there are 2 lines, a min and max line with about 4 inches between. It was completely full of coolant at one point.

The MIN line is for a taotally cold engine,the max line is a full operating temp engine level.When the coolant reaches operating temps it will expand and why there is the coolant overflow,when the coolant cools it get's drawn back into the radiator.It's not a 100% sealed system on a KK so yes you will loose coolant with no leak of any kind.

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:35 pm

NewJerseyKK wrote:

DirtyKK wrote:

dude, a cm missing?

youre fine :lol:

just keep an eye for little puddles or drips just in case

No. I mean the coolant is a cm below the min line, which means the reservoir is almost completely empty. If you look at the back of the plastic reservoir, there are 2 lines, a min and max line with about 4 inches between. It was completely full of coolant at one point.

ah, i see. i missed the minimum line. :lol:

mine actually did the same thing. couldnt ever find a leak and didnt look like it burned it like a bad head gasket. six months later and the water pump crapped out. coincidence? who knows...

NewJerseyKK · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:36 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

NewJerseyKK wrote:

DirtyKK wrote:

dude, a cm missing?

youre fine :lol:

just keep an eye for little puddles or drips just in case

No. I mean the coolant is a cm below the min line, which means the reservoir is almost completely empty. If you look at the back of the plastic reservoir, there are 2 lines, a min and max line with about 4 inches between. It was completely full of coolant at one point.

The MIN line is for a taotally cold engine,the max line is a full operating temp engine level.When the coolant reaches operating temps it will expand and why there is the coolant overflow,when the coolant cools it get's drawn back into the radiator.It's not a 100% sealed system on a KK so yes you will loose coolant with no leak of any kind.

Ohhh that makes a ton of sense. So I have nothing to worry about then. The next time I turn off the jeep Ill check the levels just to make sure.

Thanks for everyones help, btw.

Low Coolant Already?

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