Leaks are not good under ANY circumstances. You may have to replace your hoses, water pump, and/or radiator. The cooling system MUST be leaktite. Puddles are BAD. Eventually you will get enough air in the system to make it airbound, the pump won't pump coolant and then the motor will overheat. If you think it will be expensive to get the cooling system into good shape wait till you see what it will cost you when you cook the motor!!!! Pay attention to the warning signs, (the small puddles), the car is trying to tell you something. A 50/50 mix is EXACTLY what you use to refill the cooling system but if you find yourself doing it often then it is leaking and that is a problem. The coolant is ALWAYS checked when cold, NEVER HOT! The cold level should be about 1/3 of the bottle unless you use a coolant overflow system. If you EVER look in there and it is empty you have a leak and it must be fixed as soon as possible. David Teitelbaum vin 10757 --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Tom Watkins <outatime81@...> wrote: > > If you have a stainless steel bottle like I do, how do you know the best level for coolant? Do I check it when its cold? Where should it be? > > Also, for refilling, is it ok to use the Prestone 50/50 pre-diluted mix? I think there is another knock off brand as well. > > Also, is it unusual for a car stored for the winter in VERY cold temps to have some coolant leakage. During the spring, summer and fall I have no leaks at all. It's only when the car is stored do I see a signs of seepage. I start the car every few weeks and let it run for an hour or so. I get the tiny quarter sized puddles during this time. I think it may be the exteme cold shrinks the rubber and there is not as tight a seal but when milder temps come it re-seals as it expands. Does that sound plausible??? > > Thanks > > Tom Watkins > #05732 > > > Find me on Google Earth > 44°06'52.72"N 70°35'39.90"W > > --------------------------------- > Be a PS3 game guru. > Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/