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Is it safe to drive car that has leaked antifreeze if the res if filled back up?

Has cyl hd rebuilt replaced. Leaked antifreeze after driving and parked. I filled res with anti fre. Is it safe to drive approx 12 miles, as long as the gauge isn't showing hot and res is filled?

Public Comments

1. as long as the guage isn't showing hot you're OK
2. yes it is,but remember to put back anti freeze before winter sets in.
3. yes but watch the temp on the car. But please know that if it has antifreeze leak issues and the motor has been rebult the way you say then you need to get that checked out very soon. Is the antifreeze leaking somewhere you can see where it is going? If not then you may be leaking though the head and it could be going into the oil....that can tear a motor up. you really need to get it checked out.
4. That depends on whether you filled the radiator back up before filling the resevoir. Most resevoirs work off the principle of fluids expanding when heated. They usually only draw antifreeze into the radiator when cooling down versus heating up. I wouldn't worry about driving 12 miles if the leak is small and not into your engine versus external and the radiator is full along with the resevoir. however do not take off the radiator cap to check the level if the car is hot at risk of being scalded by 13 lbs. of pressure behind 210 degree F coolant. Just make sure both are full and the temp gauge stays where it belongs. Another note: temp gauges can be deceiving if the leak is big enough that the coolant level drops below the sensor causing it to read air temp and not fluid temp.
5. First remove the radiator pressure cap if there is one and make sure the radiator is full of coolant. Then make sure the coolant overflow reservoir is properly filled. Then you can drive the car until your temperature gage indicates an overheating condition. At that point, stop the engine and wait for it to cool for 1/2 hour. Then with heavy gloves and safety glasses, gradually turn the radiator cap counterclockwise to remove the pressure. If the radiator starts to boil over, simply give it time to cool down. Then top off the radiator with water, replace the radiator cap and continue driving.
6. You should be safe as long as it's not a major leak. There's only three ways that your antifreeze is leaving your car. It's leaking to the ground, the engine is burning it, or it's evaporating. Just monitor how much is needed to refill the system. You can get buy, but seek and solve the problem as soon as possible. You risk cracking the cylinder head, you've played that game before.
7. If the leak ever becomes major, and you need to get home, let the car cool down, fill the tank again, but do not put the cap on all teh way if it is a screw on, or leave it off if it is one of those half turn lock style, this will reduce the preasure of the system, and wont force as much coolatn out. Also if you loose all your coolant, or most of it, your temp gauge will most likely read normal, and not xtremely hot, becuase it will be reading the air temperature inside the engine, instead of the water temperature taht should be there, and that air will be cooler then the antifreeze water mixture should be. All in all figure out what the problem is and fix it, It's not worth risking loosign the engine int he long run, but it should be safe if it is a small leak
8. I would think so as long as it's not a major leak. If it is in fact a minor leak, but about a tablespoon of black pepper in the resovoir the next time you fill it up. I know it sounds strange but every time I've done it my radiator has stopped leaking.