Thread: "Normal" Coolant Consumption??

First of all I just wanted to know in a regular stock SR20DE RR, how much is the 'normal' coolant consumption?? I'm asking this because I recently changed my radiator a couple of weeks ago, on July 3 to be exact. Almost everyday I've checked the level and it was the same (MAX), even yesterday, until today, when I parked the car (still hot), that saw i've lost maybe like half an inch of coolant. So, i'm guessing this is NOT normal... it's only like 15 days since I changed the radiator?

Just to let you know today is like 86 F, and with heavy traffic, so I don't know if this could be the reason? I don't think so, just guessing...

(Sorry about my bad english)

sounds like an air bubble. Id try to bleed the system again. every time i open my system i bleed it like three times and let it cool completely between bleeds

How are you measuring the coolant level? The expansion tank is useless for level unless you check at the same rest temperature every time. A 1/2" change in the expansion tank wouldn't bother me one bit.

Oh, and normal consumption is zero. Zero coolant consumption.

Well when I changed the radiator, after bleeding the system, I filled the expansion tank to the max line, now is 1/2" less +/- from the MAX line...

The "strange" part about this is that it had the same level, until today, is was not something that happened gradually...

What i'm thinking is what Nissanboi said, the system was no completely bleeded and it might have air bubbles, if not... well, do a leak test and pray is not the headgasket...

I haven't added any to my car in 2 years. It doeosnt like the over flow bottle though. It will only keep and inch in the bottle. Anything else it pushes out. But Once it gets to the last inch it is happy and no over heating.

This. The reservoir or expansion tank is a bad place to look at your level for a variety of reasons. You're fine.

Remember that if, for a moment, the coolant system gets a bit hot and over-pressurized, the cap will vent out excess pressure. It's supposed to go to the bottle, but sometimes it escapes the entire overflow system in vapor form. Plus, the system working how it does with pressure relief, your reservoir level will be constantly fluctuating anyway.

You're fine; don't pay too much attention to that level in the bottle. As long as it's there your good.

And also if the car does not overheat! lol

Yah, this is normal behavior. When cold, the expansion tank should be near empty but never completely empty. As the water temps rise, the water expands and it needs somewhere to go. Hence the overflow tank. Then as it cools the water from the tank is sucked back into the system.
If you have any real amount of coolant in there cold, when things heat up everything expands and the overflow tank spills over. It will get rid of the extra water you've put in there until it reaches a happy level.

I don't touch it. Right after I got it on the road I would add a little because I didn't "know" the car but now I know when she is happy or angry at me. So when I see it I will know if something is up. And every time I change my oil I pop the cap to make sure the level is still at the top.