Maintenance & Service
How to Check Coolant Level
A coolant check is quick and safe, as long as you do it on a cold engine. Here is how…
- Reading time
- 4 min
A red thermometer over wavy lines, meaning engine coolant is hotter than its normal operating range.
Can you continue driving?
No — stop safely as soon as possible
The coolant is hotter than the engine is designed to run. Continuing to drive risks a warped cylinder head or a failed head gasket — repairs measured in days of labour rather than a part.
Turn the cabin heating to full hot with the fan at maximum — unpleasant, but it pulls real heat out of the engine — and stop somewhere safe as soon as you can. Switch the engine off.
Wait at least thirty minutes before opening the bonnet. Never open the coolant cap while the system is hot. It is pressurised, and the contents are above boiling point; releasing the cap sprays scalding coolant.
Before driving any further, unless the coolant was simply low, topping up restored the level once cold, and the temperature stayed normal afterwards. Overheating a second time usually costs more than recovery would have.
Maintenance & Service
A coolant check is quick and safe, as long as you do it on a cold engine. Here is how…
Troubleshooting
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Troubleshooting
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Dashboard symbols are largely standardised; these are the models with guides that mention this one.
