I know i should know - but i dont! Vectra top up

andreaandrea

I know i should really know how to do this - but i dont!!

Just cleaning the car and thought id fill water washer etc.

Noticed one of the plastic containers was almost empty.

Its on a Vauxhall Vectra and its just to the right (as im looking at it) of the middle.

There is a yello cap on it and it says Warning - never open hot and there is a big line around it saying cold

Sooooooo - os this the coolant??!?!?!

I know its not for the washers or the oil - dont think its brake fluid.

So ive looked in the garage and i have a bottle of anti freeze and summer coolant. Is this the right thing to put in this reservoir? it says up to 50/50 with water.

I just dont want to put it in this reservoir if its the wrong thing or the wrong place!!

Tried to find some pictures/cideos on You Tube etc but struggling

I know i should know so please dont attack me - just help if you can!!!!

andreaandrea

Just to add - now seems that there are different colours and that i shouldnt mix it - how do i know what i had in already and what to put in now?!

ARRRRGHH!!! lol!!

forgotmyname

What colour is the coolant? Dont mix the red and blue types. In strong concentrations which you will need
if this winters like the last one, It can turn into a gunky jelly that wont protect or cool.

Get a handbook or haynes manual.

andreaandrea

There is none in so i cant check

Checked the handbook - cant seem to find anywhere what should be in it

prowla

You could go to Halfords and ask them.

(Also, you can register your credit cards with Quidco and get cashback on Halfords purchases.)

oldhand

And the good lord gave us women drivers..............:think::think::think:

Tiexen

STEP AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE.

I think you should find someone who knows about cars and ask them to show you what's what.

Wayne3765

andreaandrea wrote: »

There is none in so i cant check

Checked the handbook - cant seem to find anywhere what should be in it

If there's nothing at all in the resevoir then you probably have a have a much bigger problem than just trying to choose the right colour coolant.

You might be lucky and just have a small leak but you should get someone who knows what they are doing to check for you.

Weird_Nev

Don't add anything anywhere unless you know exactly what you're filling up and why.

If there really is no coolant, the car needs urgent attention.
If you put coolant in the brake fluid, the car WILL need urgent attention.
If you put brake fluid in the screenwash, Your paint will need urgent attention.

So I suggest you let someone who knows what they're looking at sort it out for you.

Lum

Not really a money saving option, but Tesco do a coolant top up, Prestol or something like that, comes in a yellow bottle. It's compatible with both types of coolant.

Ditto the points about finding the cause of this, and making sure it actually is coolant!, but it might help you limp along in the meantime. I've used it in the past because the coolant my old mechanic used to use was the colour of Mountain Dew energy drink bottles, not red or blue so no idea what it's made of.

petrolhead69

you really should drain all the coolant and replace it anyway, it should be changed every 3-5 years as the anti corrosion additives break down and it starts rotting the inside of your engine. coolant is dirt cheap and you say you have some already. Best getting it checked over for leaks/blowing head gasket first though.
always check with the engine cold. sometimes loosening the cap releases pressure and the level comes back up.