Checking 987 coolant level.

[JW1]

Hi All,
This might seem like a silly question but how crucial is it to be on level ground when checking the coolant level on a 987? Am I right in thinking that the car should ideally be completely cold to get the most accurate reading?
James.

[Hilux2400]

I check mine cold in the morning when everything has had a chance to settle. I try and check it with the car in the same location in the shed with it being almost level. Under these conditions there should be very little variation from day to day.

After refilling a car it takes a day or two for it to settle down hence the importance of checking when it is cold. Under these conditions I fill the reservoir to just below the max mark (about 5mm)when cold. I then check it from morning to morning for about 3/5 days until it always shows the same position. After that there should be very little variation, when cold, unless there is coolant loss or the filler cap is faulty.

It is also important to watch engine temperature levels which should be reasonably constant when the engine is warm under normal driving conditions. Mine rests at about 82 DegC. Even a slight rise can signify a leak or pressure loss which could get worse.

I had a problem with my Merc Sprinter recently when the temperature was consistently running about 2/3 degrees above normal, but I could not find the coolant loss. Eventually, I tracked it down to a leaking hose connection in an auxiliary heater in the cab.

H

[JW1]

Thanks for your reply Hilux. I have just purchased the car and whether parking at home or at work both are on a slope, so I wondered with the engine and rads being a distance apart whether I would get false readings on a slope. The car seems to be running at the correct temperature, guage reads midway and I had a 340 mile drive home from the garage I purchased the car from and the temp guage needle did not move from halfway, however I have topped it up twice since now completing 550 miles in the last week. Not sure if the coolant was in need of topping up when I collected it?
J.