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Do you add coolant to the radiator or reservoir?
I bought new coolant for my car, and I’ve heard you can just add it straight to the radiator instead of the reservoir. So, do you add coolant to the radiator or reservoir?
Melanie Krieps Mergen · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The answer will depend on your vehicle, but generally, you can add coolant directly to the radiator of an older car if your reservoir is empty.
Here are a few things to note:
- In some older vehicles, there is no separate reservoir for the coolant. You add the liquid directly to the radiator.
- If there is a reservoir, you should always add coolant to the reservoir unless the level is extremely low. An overflow or recovery tank will catch excess coolant and send it back to the radiator.
- It may be worth doing a coolant flush if the car has been in storage for a while.
Pro tip: When adding coolant to the radiator, use a 50/50 mix of coolant to water. Auto shops will sell premixed coolants, but they’re more expensive. You’re basically just paying for water added to the coolant concentrate.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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