my girl friend has a 95 teg, question:
everytime she checks coolant fluid level its empty?

 

jay- in the radiator or the coolant overflow tank?

 

overflow tank.

 

While doing some under-the-hood stuff a few weeks ago, I too noticed that the overflow tank was empty. Since I did not have any Honda coolant, I simply added distilled water to the MIN line. Probably about 1 pint (= 1/2 quart). Since the coolant capacity is about 5 quarts, I don't think I am affecting the coolant/water ratio too bad. [I don't want to do the math.]

Back under the hood a couple days ago, and there was still fluid in the overflow tank.

I have had no cooling problems.

Beats me what this means.

 

Check for cracks in the top part of the radiator. My '95 Integra develpoed hair line cracks in the top tank (plastic) and the coolant would seep out from there, leaving nothing in the over-flow tank.

The cooling system still functioned because the cracks were at the top of the radiator. Replaced the radiator and everything is fine now.

 

I assume you are filling up the coolant overflow tank jay?

Try filling up the radiator if its low, and then fillup the coolant overflow tank to the max line.

If the coolant tank is empty later on either the car is burning coolant, or the tank has a leak in it.

 

My old corolla did this... I had a small crack in a hose and water would seep out... but not enough to notice, except every time I put gas in it I had to add a bit of coolant...

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you really shouldn't have all that much coolant mix in there in the first place. There is a max fill line that's about a 1/4 of the way up it. The purpose, being that it's an overflow tank, is if your car overheats, then the coolant has someplace to go. The increased temperatures create pressure on the radiator cap, which forces the spring in it up, allowing coolant to flow into the tank. If you've already filled it up, there would be no place for any overflow coolant to go.

 

The coolant reservoir isn't strictly an overflow tank. You should check the level when the car is cooled down because coolant can still be in the lines and not in the reservoir or radiator right after you shut it off. Once the car is cooled down, the coolant level should be in between the min and max fill lines.

If you're checking the level at any time other than when the car has had a chance to sit the reading is not necessarily going to be correct. If it does appear that you're losing coolant level then you're going to have to go leak hunting. A small radiator leak (assuming it's not a hose problem) can be remedied by getting some radiator stop-leak goop which can be found at any auto parts store.

 

drumsy- if the tank gets full there is an overflow valve, i just suggested the shotgun to the misquito approach