
When an airlock surrounds the coolant sensor, it will drop, and when the coolant comes again, it will go back to the normal temperature. This happens when the engine coolant is so low that air is pumped around in the coolant system. Fluctuating temperature gaugeĪnother low engine coolant symptom you will notice is that the engine temperature gauge may start to fluctuate fast between different temperatures. If the low engine coolant system warning light appears on the dashboard, it is definitely time to check the coolant level. It may sound obvious, but not all car models have this light, especially if the car model is a little bit older. Most modern cars have a warning light that will appear on the dashboard if the engine coolant is low. Low engine coolant symbol on the dashboard Here is a more detailed list of the most common symptoms of low engine coolant: 1. There are, however, some other things you can check for. The easiest way to see if the engine coolant level is low is, of course, to open the hood and check in the coolant reservoir. If your temperature gauge is fluctuating it could be caused by a low engine coolant level. The most common symptom of low engine coolant is a coolant level warning symbol on the dashboard. Just be careful never to open the coolant reservoir when the engine coolant is hot! Symptoms of Low Engine Coolant Refilling the engine coolant is such an easy thing to do and surely worth considering the consequences of it. Low engine coolant can cause airlocks in the coolant system and an overheating engine can destroy expensive parts like the engine block or seize it completely. It is not safe to drive with a low engine coolant level.

Is it safe to drive with a low engine coolant level? Usually, the only way to fix a seized engine is to tear the whole engine apart to locate the issue. If the engine gets too hot, engine parts can expand so much that damage will occur, and the engine will seize. Most engine parts are made of metal, and as you may already know, metal expands and shrinks depending on the temperature. To repair it, you have to replace the whole engine block.
BMW COOLANT LOW CRACK
These hotspots can cause extreme temperatures in the engine block, which can actually cause it to crack, and a crack in the engine block or cylinder head is the last thing you want. As we told you before, low engine coolant can create hotspots in the cooling system.
BMW COOLANT LOW CRACKED
Damaged Engine blockĪn even more serious issue that can occur if you drive with a low engine coolant is a damaged or cracked engine block. Related: Symptoms of a Bad Head Gasket 4. Replacing the head gasket is often quite expensive, and you can expect repair costs of over $1000 however, it is nothing compared to what comes next. The head gasket is located between the engine head and the cylinder head its purpose is to separate compression, oil, and coolant. Blowing the head gasketĪ very common thing that can happen when your engine overheats due to low engine coolant is a blown head gasket. Overheating Engineīecause of the airlocks in the coolant system that we talked about before, the water pump will not pump around the coolant to keep the engine at a good temperature, and this will cause the engine to overheat.Īn overheating engine can cause many expensive issues with your engine, which we discuss in the next sections. The first thing that could happen if you drive around with low coolant is that the water pump will pump air into the coolant system, which will cause airlocks in the coolant system.Īirlocks will cause the cooling system’s flow to be disturbed, which will cause an overheating engine. Here is a more detailed list of what can happen if you ignore & drive around with a low engine coolant level: 1. An overheating engine can lead to a blown head gasket or a damaged engine block. The most common consequence of driving with a low engine coolant is air in the cooling system, resulting in an overheating engine. Consequences of Driving With Low Engine Coolant Level You will find more possible symptoms further down in the article, but first, let’s take a look at the consequences of driving with a low engine coolant level. Just topping up the coolant level should never be a long-term solution.

The leaks can come from leaking hoses, sensors, or gaskets. The most common reason for a low coolant level is a leaking cooling system. Faulty EGR cooler What Causes A Low Coolant Level?
