[Pampered-Z]

When you see the low coolant check the level right away!

If you went into the red the coolant would boil / expand enough to come out the overflow and probably enough to burst a weak hose or push it off or even possible blow the low coolant sensor out? Had this happen when my electic water pump went. Pinned the temp gauge and all the collant blew out the cap of the overflow tank!


You also want to check you oil and make sure it's not looking milky! Restart the car and look for white smoke ( blown head gasket or worst = warped/cracked hear or block).


Refill the radiator up to where the vent hose for the heads connects to the rad. ( about 2" down from the rad cap, and above the low collant sensor. Start the car with the cap off and and look for leak(s). no leaks then keep running it and montor the coolant, you will most likely need to keep adding water. What you want to look for is no bubbles, when the engine gets up to operating temp ( around 190 = stock termostat). You should start to look at the hose to make sure none are collapsing, and see coolant going into the radiator from the head vent hose. IF you don't see collant flowing and the temp is above 190 either the tremostat is stuck closed or your water pump has failed.

From there, after the it cools down remove the thermostat, you should see collant flowing from the head vent tube right away.

Just be VERY careful, when the thermostat opens it could release air pockets which can force hot collant out the top of the radiator!