help! overfilled coolant

[jzw]

I accidentally overfilled the coolant. it is half way between the max indicator and top of reservior. Do I need to take the excessive coolant out? how do i do so?

[andyschneider]

Keep an eye on the level next time the motor gets to operating temperature and see how high the level goes when warmed up. It might be OK, maybe not. But the best way to get the excess out - a turkey baster! Just don't use the same one you'd use for Thanksgiving. I always keep one in the garage for this sort of "oops" overfill situation.

Just be careful when using it since the fluid will like to run out before you're ready - so wrap a shop towel around the overflow tank and keep a container right there to dump the fluid from the baster.

andy

[jzw]

thanks. i guess i will have to keep an eye on it. i don't have a turkey baster lying around in my garage.

[N_Jay]

Just ignore it.

It will overflow the extra and all will be well.

[Sportymonk]

Make sure it doesn't drip around your driveway if you have pets. The old style coolant was sweet and was poisonous. Pets would lick it and die. The new style antifreeze is supposedly not sweet tasting and as attractant to pets but it is still poisonous. I woiuld drain it out if possible.

[rocky]

I'm with the turkey baster get it out of there crowd on this one.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by Sportymonk
Make sure it doesn't drip around your driveway if you have pets. The old style coolant was sweet and was poisonous. Pets would lick it and die. The new style antifreeze is supposedly not sweet tasting and as attractant to pets but it is still poisonous. I woiuld drain it out if possible.

It is not going to come out in enough quantity to make any puddles large enough to cause any problems for pets.

It is just going to spit out as you drive in little drops.

If you decide to just sit there and let it idle till it all drains into a puddle just hose it off.

[bigpav7]

It acutally overflowed quite a bit when I overfilled it in my car. Once the car warmed up, it started making its way out and pretty soon I did have one heck of a puddle under the car. I say get it out of there - that will keep your engine bay clean and avoid any potential incidents with pets.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by bigpav7
It acutally overflowed quite a bit when I overfilled it in my car. Once the car warmed up, it started making its way out and pretty soon I did have one heck of a puddle under the car. I say get it out of there - that will keep your engine bay clean and avoid any potential incidents with pets.

Guess you weren't driving?

[bigpav7]

I actually pulled over and was talking to a friend of mine standing outside. He noticed the fluid leaking and pointed it out to me. There was a rather large puddle under the car after about 5-8 minutes of idling.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by bigpav7
There was a rather large puddle under the car after about 5-8 minutes of idling.

Idling for 5 to 8 minutes?

Don't you know we have a fuel shortage???

Just kidding.

While it is poisonous to pets so you don't want to leave a puddle sitting, it take a good put to make them sick, so you don't have to worry about little drops.
Hose it off and relax.

[jarizzo]

I had a neighbor once who owned a Corvette that rarely ever got driven and stayed in the garage under a car cover. He loved to brag about how it was paid for. One hot August day, he decided it would be a good idea to start it and let it idle for a while to get the fluids pumping and charge the battery, etc. Well taking it for a drive would have been better, but OK, not a terrible idea yet. He probably should have taken the car cover off first. Now it's a terrible idea. He started it and went inside to have a couple brewskis. Some time later, he went back out to the garage and the thing sounded funny and there was a giant green puddle and steam pouring out from the car cover. The thing was overheated and had blown out who knows how much coolant from the overflow tank. I have no idea if there was any permanent mechanical or paint damage, but he never put the car cover back on it and I don't remember seeing him drive it after that.

Anyway, stories aside, if it's a little overfilled, just drive it and it will drip out on the roadway. (already mentioned, I know) Just don't sit idling in the driveway and let it heat up or you'll have a puddle. (also already mentioned, I know) A small puddle on the driveway/garage floor is easily wiped up or washed off and whatever trace amount is left won't hurt any pets.

Overfilling coolant isn't mechanically dangerous like overfilling oil or transmission fluid. It will just overflow as it expands while you're driving and nobody will ever notice.

John