This is probably a silly question but how do I check the coolant level on my ZT190? I take the cap off and look into the tank but what the hell am I looking for? The diagram in the handbook is as good as a chocolate fireguard!

What I see, is a number of plastic struts pointing into the middle of the tank, with the coolant liquid up to about the middle of the struts but not covering them. Hope that makes sense?

Should the coolant cover the struts and so I need to top up or does it always look like this? The temperature guage in the car never goes above halfway.

Thanks for any advice

First of all no question is a silly question.

If you look into the tank you will see nothing because the two fins are covered by the coolant. If and when the coolant goes down they will come into view. The pieces of plastic you need to see are there but the only way you can "feel" them is if you put in a small pencil or whatever and just feel for them. The MAX and MIN are so close together that the "pencil" drops down only a quarter of an inch between the two.

If you look on the outside of the right side of the tank you will see the levels embossed in the plastic as well. Dont worry if you can't see the MIN and MAX levels you have plenty of coolant.

By the way, I kept looking at the plastic struts thinking they were something to do with the level but I assure you they are not.

Ken

 

On my 75 the min and max indicators are on a horizontal scale reading from right to left. The fins are steps on the way from min to max. so you don't read it vertical if you are looking through the cap, you read it as is the liquid reaching the fins to the left-if not then its not full! Easy when you know how

That is also how you need to look at the diagram in the owners manual-then it makes sense.

This is why on a 75 you never fill the expansion tank up-if you do then there is no room for the liquid to expand into whern the engine is running and that only leads to Phwwwst-bang (excuse the vernacular).

hth

Mike

 

On my 75 the min and max indicators are on a horizontal scale reading from right to left. The fins are steps on the way from min to max. so you don't read it vertical if you are looking through the cap, you read it as is the liquid reaching the fins to the left-if not then its not full! Easy when you know how

That is also how you need to look at the diagram in the owners manual-then it makes sense.

This is why on a 75 you never fill the expansion tank up-if you do then there is no room for the liquid to expand into whern the engine is running and that only leads to Phwwwst-bang (excuse the vernacular).

hth

Mike

Well you lost me there Mike????? :lol: I think these posts probably explain it better than you or I mike :lol: http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=42360&highlight=coolant+level+75 and funnily enough the subject was started by me originally!!

 

Thanks folks

Thanks a lot. All makes sense now.