Why do you have to keep topping up your engine coolant?

Are you constantly having to top up your engine coolant with water? We’re sorry to tell you, but that’s not normal and definitely not healthy. 

Topping up your engine coolant is fine, but should only really be done in an emergency to enable you to get to a garage.

So, why are you having to do this so frequently? What is causing it? 

Both are good questions, but there’s never an obvious answer when it comes to the inner workings of a car – they’re confusing, intricate machines and there could be all manner of things causing you to lose engine coolant. However, here are a few of the more common issues that you may be up against:

• The most likely culprit is a leaking component, such as a radiator. Anything water passes through could perish or wear out and create a leak.
• Head gasket failure
• A cracked cylinder head (usually as a result of overheating)

More often than not, what starts as a small leak, can end up causing further damage – like head gasket failure and a cracked cylinder head – if not taken care of in enough time. This is because the longer you ignore the leak, the more water you will lose, causing the engine to overheat resulting in a myriad of problems. 

As stated above, topping up your coolant with water more than once is NOT NORMAL.

Here’s what you should do instead…

If you find yourself having to top it up just once, treat it as a warning that something more sinister is going on and take your car to a garage. A garage will run an engine pressure test to diagnose the original problem, and then work to fix it. 

To keep your car’s cooling system in good condition, you should ideally check the level of your coolant weekly, and take your car to your local garage on a regular basis so they can check the strength and condition of the coolant and replace it if necessary. They will recommend replacement intervals to ensure your coolant remains effective.

Did you know…

If your vehicle is serviced at the recommended intervals following manufacturer schedules, your garage should be checking your coolant levels and make you aware when a coolant change is due. We always encourage our customers to go for the manufacturer-recommended service schedules to ensure that things like coolant changes (which are due at certain mileage and age intervals), brake fluid changes and transmission services, for example, are not missed. We will always check and inform our customers when these additional service jobs are due; you can trust us to give you the information you need to keep your car safe and on the road.