Car Maintenance Questions...

[lesnar]

My engine coolant is running low, im wondering if it is ok to buy some from Canadian Tire and fill it up. Is ok if there is a mix with the old and the new oil (different brands)? i'm thinking of just getting the engine coolant and transmission fluid (for when it comes time for oil change) from Canadian Tire, but i've notice many ppl on RFD refuse/don't like CT products...any other suggestions on other places i should go to? Thanks in advance.

Also, where do you guys go to purchase your tires? I'm looking for All Season Tires for my minivan.

edit: I drive a 2001 Mazda MPV

[CRXGSR]

Mixing coolants is fine as long as it's the same type. If you have green coolant, only add green coolant. If you have orange, only use orange.

Don't bother buying the tranny fluid. When you go get your oil change, just ask them to top up the tranny. It shouldn't cost you anything unless it's really really low and they have to put a lot in (in which case you have a problem).

As for tires, check out gtausedtires.com;)

[Spud72]

Mixing coolants is fine as long as it's the same type. If you have green coolant, only add green coolant. If you have orange, only use orange.

That's not necessarily true. Most can be mixed just fine. They really only differ by pet friendly, long life, aluminum compatible. Most, if not all nowdays, are aluminum compatible. That just leaves long life and pet friendly (less toxic). You can mix regular stuff with them, but you'll just lose the added bonus if it is some of the fancy stuff. Make sure you mix some water in it though - it isn't a good idea to add 100% coolant in any amount.

I think the bigger question to ask is why are you needing to add coolant? Do you have a leak? Do you have engine troubles? (Head gasket?). Normally speaking, you won't leak coolant unless there is a problem.

[Pete_Coach]

If you are going to do a flush soon, just go to CT and buy a jug of the premixed stuff (already mixed with water). It is handy to keep in the car. Your owners manual will tell you the type of antifreeze to use.
Do not fill it through the radiator cap (if you have one) put it in the expansion tank.
If you are going to get the transmission fluid changes, make sure you take it to a shop that has the equipment to get all the fluid out, that includes the fluid in the torque converter. Just draining the transmission sump does not get all the fluid out.

[jason9945]

And if you own a Dodge Caravan make sure they use the correct fluid or you can kiss your transmission goodbye!

[seftonm]

If you have a modern VAG vehicle, don't go for any coolant other than G12 or G12+.

[ah802]

CT has and handles good products, almost all the major brands.
Service is something else though, they pay their guys low and stand on them.
Costco really does have the best tire deals these days.
Do look after your tranny; this is the weak point in most vans.

Low coolant is troubling, top it up with CT stuff if it's too low, some garages will top this up for free on an oil change if you ask. Keep you eye on this level... if you have a leak, fix it... if you don't see a leak, it could be internal and signs of head gasket problems or worse.

[lesnar]

CT has and handles good products, almost all the major brands.
Service is something else though, they pay their guys low and stand on them.
Costco really does have the best tire deals these days.
Do look after your tranny; this is the weak point in most vans.

Low coolant is troubling, top it up with CT stuff if it's too low, some garages will top this up for free on an oil change if you ask. Keep you eye on this level... if you have a leak, fix it... if you don't see a leak, it could be internal and signs of head gasket problems or worse.

ok, i don't know much about cars, but when the car is cold in the morning the Engine coolant is below 'LOW'...once i warm up the car it rises just above the 'LOW' line...is this normal? or should it rise all the way up to 'FULL' when the car is warmed up?

[lesnar]

Mixing coolants is fine as long as it's the same type. If you have green coolant, only add green coolant. If you have orange, only use orange.

Don't bother buying the tranny fluid. When you go get your oil change, just ask them to top up the tranny. It shouldn't cost you anything unless it's really really low and they have to put a lot in (in which case you have a problem).

As for tires, check out gtausedtires.com;)

hey, do you work there? can RFD members get a discount through you? :lol:

[CRXGSR]

ok, i don't know much about cars, but when the car is cold in the morning the Engine coolant is below 'LOW'...once i warm up the car it rises just above the 'LOW' line...is this normal? or should it rise all the way up to 'FULL' when the car is warmed up?

Typically, the car will not have a coolant level gauge. It will have a coolant temperature guage. So when engine is cold, it should be below the C line. When the engine reaches it's operating temperature, it should be just below the halfway mark between the H and C mark. If it reaches any higher than that, then you have a problem which should be checked out.

BTW, PM me what size you need, and I'll see what I can do for you. ;)

[lesnar]

Typically, the car will not have a coolant level gauge. It will have a coolant temperature guage. So when engine is cold, it should be below the C line. When the engine reaches it's operating temperature, it should be just below the halfway mark between the H and C mark. If it reaches any higher than that, then you have a problem which should be checked out.

BTW, PM me what size you need, and I'll see what I can do for you. ;)

this is what i meant when i mentioned Engine Coolant. I apologize for the misused of the term.

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/479/enginemaintenance1qb8.jpg

[ah802]

ok, i don't know much about cars, but when the car is cold in the morning the Engine coolant is below 'LOW'...once i warm up the car it rises just above the 'LOW' line...is this normal? or should it rise all the way up to 'FULL' when the car is warmed up?If the image is your car, then not to worry, looks like you could use a cup or two top-up. But not serious problem, the engine coolant levels fluctuates depending on ambient/engine/pressure. Once operational, the engine coolant system is under slight pressure and needs to take in a bit more fluid from the overflow box and would explain high & low levels.. I would get worried if you see no fluid at all in the overflow box and it keeps disappearing.

As a side note: once the engine is warmed up to operational temperatures, the thermostat opens and the coolant path of the engine is joined with the radiator path which influences the coolant levels once again. Some areas of the engine can exceed the boiling point (one of the reasons for a pressurized system) but are kept under control by a fast moving coolant pump and helps to explain the large volume changes.