[redsoul210]

So, I went to refill my washer fluid when I noticed that my coolant level was about an inch or two below the min line. I have about 1,400 miles on the car and I know wonder if it was like this from the factory or if there is something wrong. I have an appointment at the dealership tomorrow. I’m sure they’ll top it off and call it a day.

 

[insightfully]

Have you noticed any leaks? If not, maybe it's 'just' your radiator cap that was loose and allowed evaporation (?). Least likely is that your coolant is getting burned and/or going into your oil. Also if it helps, with this being a hybrid, your engine wasn't running for the full 1400 miles driven so far...

 

[redsoul210]

Have you noticed any leaks? If not, maybe it's 'just' your radiator cap that was loose and allowed evaporation (?). Least likely is that your coolant is getting burned and/or going into your oil. Also if it helps, with this being a hybrid, your engine wasn't running for the full 1400 miles driven so far...

No, I haven’t noticed leaks. I park in a garage at home and the same parking spot at work every time and I haven’t seen anything. Will update after I visit the dealer.

 

[redsoul210]

Dealership says everything checks out ok, not sure why it was low but I’ll keep an eye on it.

 

[Wifey'sInsight]

Dealership says everything checks out ok, not sure why it was low but I’ll keep an eye on it.

It could have been a bubble in a coolant line when the car was originally filled, unlikely because I'm sure they fill it with a pre-measured amount but not impossible.

 

[andrew28]

My Insight is 20 months old and at around 8,700 miles. Checked(during the morning before driving) my Engine Coolant Reserve Tank and noticed half of it is gone. The Inverter Coolant Filler Tank is near max from what I can tell. Going to bring it up with the dealership whenever I go do the fuel pump recall.

 

[hasarad]

My Insight is 20 months old and at around 8,700 miles. Checked(during the morning before driving) my Engine Coolant Reserve Tank and noticed half of it is gone. The Inverter Coolant Filler Tank is near max from what I can tell. Going to bring it up with the dealership whenever I go do the fuel pump recall.

I'm curious to learn where the coolant level was once the car was warmed up.I don't have my reserve tank in front of me, so I don't know if the line below the shown coolant level is the min line or not. If it is, I don't think you have an issue. If you're indeed low (below min) at 8,700 miles, I'd be concerned regardless of the 20-month age. The reserve/overflow tank should never be full with a cold engine.

 

[andrew28]

I'm curious to learn where the coolant level was once the car was warmed up.I don't have my reserve tank in front of me, so I don't know if the line below the shown coolant level is the min line or not. If it is, I don't think you have an issue. If you're indeed low (below min) at 8,700 miles, I'd be concerned regardless of the 20-month age. The reserve/overflow tank should never be full with a cold engine.

I edited the photo with color coded lines to make it easier to see. The red is the minimum line, yellow is my current level, and green is the full line. From my understanding, proper coolant level checking should always be done with a cold engine. I know the coolant level will rise when the engine is warm/hot. Shouldn't my coolant level when cold be close to the full line if that's how much was in there from the factory?

 

[insightfully]

I edited the photo with color coded lines to make it easier to see. The red is the minimum line, yellow is my current level, and green is the full line. From my understanding, proper coolant level checking should always be done with a cold engine. I know the coolant level will rise when the engine is warm/hot. Shouldn't my coolant level when cold be close to the full line if that's how much was in there from the factory?

It looks full (over-full?) in the picture to me. Is this your actual reservoir that you refilled, of just a sample picture?

 

[andrew28]

It looks full (over-full?) in the picture to me. Is this your actual reservoir that you refilled, of just a sample picture?

Yeah, it's a picture of the actual reservoir on my Insight. The fluid level is at the yellow line I drew...

 

[Lavash]

The level should be halfway between the minimum and maximum. Your car has a normal coolant level.

 

[andrew28]

The tech took a look at it and topped it off to the full line during my oil change.

Red: Low line
Green: Full line
Blue: Current level

 

[onthefly1050]

I'm curious to learn where the coolant level was once the car was warmed up.I don't have my reserve tank in front of me, so I don't know if the line below the shown coolant level is the min line or not. If it is, I don't think you have an issue. If you're indeed low (below min) at 8,700 miles, I'd be concerned regardless of the 20-month age. The reserve/overflow tank should never be full with a cold engine.

This also happened on my car around 60k, the dealer topped it off and it never went down again, it has been working just fine, no issues with the system, definitely no head gasket issues or leaks so the coolant isn't escaping the system- my guess is a small amount of air must get into the system during production and eventually work its way out.

 

[MidAtlanticWhiteOrchird]

Decided to check my coolant level this morning and noticed that the engine coolant reserve tank was way below the minimum line. Mileage is currently at ~45K. The cap felt loose. No leakage seen anywhere. I‘ll be honest, I haven’t looked at any liquid levels since I purchased the car. Will have to keep an eye on this more.

 

[Lavash]

Worry not worth it. You need to top up, remember the level and observe. Just remember two things
1.Cold liquids reduce volume. If the level was checked in the summer, then in the winter it will definitely be lower on a cold car.
2. The composition of the cooling liquid includes water, and it tends to evaporate. And the cooling system is not a completely closed system, there is a communication with air.

But it's worth watching.

 

[onthefly1050]

Decided to check my coolant level this morning and noticed that the engine coolant reserve tank was way below the minimum line. Mileage is currently at ~45K. The cap felt loose. No leakage seen anywhere. I‘ll be honest, I haven’t looked at any liquid levels since I purchased the car. Will have to keep an eye on this more.

That's exactly where my level was also. They topped it up at the dealership during an oil change and it never went down again! I agree also do not be worried. I was initially very worried about it but that was way back around 60,000 and I am now at 137,000 and it's never moved again, and no issues whatsoever!
PS Don't let them charge you for it or try to tell you that you need a coolant exchange. For a few ounces like that they should top it off free esp if you go to the place you bought it. I wouldn't even tell them you are worried about it because they'll probably try to sell you something. Coolant exchange didn't show up in maintenance minder until around roughly 120,000 for my car. If they top if off and it it goes back down again then it would be a concern, but make sure you always check it at the same engine temperature because it can vary based on engine temperature. I think this is normal for this car, there are a lot of places the coolant has to go to (including the inverter and heater core) and it seems like some air gets in the system at production.

 

[andrew28]

This also happened on my car around 60k, the dealer topped it off and it never went down again, it has been working just fine, no issues with the system, definitely no head gasket issues or leaks so the coolant isn't escaping the system- my guess is a small amount of air must get into the system during production and eventually work its way out.

After my dealership topped off the coolant 5 months ago it's still sitting at the same spot on the max refill line when I checked yesterday.

Decided to check my coolant level this morning and noticed that the engine coolant reserve tank was way below the minimum line. Mileage is currently at ~45K. The cap felt loose. No leakage seen anywhere. I‘ll be honest, I haven’t looked at any liquid levels since I purchased the car. Will have to keep an eye on this more.

I'm guessing my radiator cap was probably a little loose from the factory, too.

Don't let them charge you for it or try to tell you that you need a coolant exchange. For a few ounces like that they should top it off free esp if you go to the place you bought it. I wouldn't even tell them you are worried about it because they'll probably try to sell you something. Coolant exchange didn't show up in maintenance minder until around roughly 120,000 for my car. If they top if off and it it goes back down again then it would be a concern, but make sure you always check it at the same engine temperature because it can vary based on engine temperature. I think this is normal for this car, there are a lot of places the coolant has to go to (including the inverter and heater core) and it seems like some air gets in the system at production.

The free multi-point inspection should include fluid top off which include things like coolant and windshield washer fluid.

 

[andrew28]

The reserve/overflow tank should never be full with a cold engine.

I was browsing the owner's manual and notice Honda said to check when cold and fill to max. Shouldn't the reserve tank be full when cold then...?

Also anyone know why the Insight/Accord Hybrid/Clarity have inverter coolant but the CR-V Hybrid does not?