Dumb coolant question

[slackerinabox]

So my 2004 volvo s80's coolant bubbled over the other day and my buddy told me that I should have mixed the coolant with 50% water (I had no idea, I don't know a thing about cars). I promptly removed have the coolant and filled the rest with water but the light remains. Also the engine gauge is redlining at times. Should I just wait for the now properly mixed solution to work it's way out or should we take it into the shop?

Thanks!

 

[Zenmervolt]

There is a lot more here than you're telling us because you shouldn't have needed to add coolant in the first place.

Why did you add coolant to begin with?

And no, there's no "working its way out" here. Based on what's already happened, I'd advise against you trying to fix it any more and would have it towed to a shop to fix the overheating issue. (If the temperature gauge is getting to the red, you should not be driving it.)

ZV

 

[desy]

Shop
You have an issue here, coolant doesn't just bubble out for the hell of it esp in a car that new

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Shop
You have an issue here, coolant doesn't just bubble out for the hell of it esp in a car that new

+1
And next time please at least read the label before dumping chemicals into your car.

 

[kitatech]

So my 2004 volvo s80's coolant bubbled over the other day and my buddy told me that I should have mixed the coolant with 50% water (I had no idea, I don't know a thing about cars). I promptly removed have the coolant and filled the rest with water but the light remains. Also the engine gauge is redlining at times. Should I just wait for the now properly mixed solution to work it's way out or should we take it into the shop?

Thanks!

Yes...

Some coolants are pre-mixed...you don't say what you used.

Yes, 50c/50w is the typical specified ratio for coolant systems.

All your gauges are telling you that something is wrong that can't be diagnosed on the net...

So yes, take it to the shop.

 

[cabri]

Cooling system has problems. Engine is overheating, causing coolant to boil off into overflow tank.

Things to look for:
Hose leaks - smells or drips obvious
Radiator leakage
Theromat stuck.
Water pump dead
Internal coolant leakage into block


List above is from easiest to check and also least expensive.
After the water pump, you will need to evaluate the value of the vehicle

 

[BUTCH1]

Cooling system has problems. Engine is overheating, causing coolant to boil off into overflow tank.

Things to look for:
Hose leaks - smells or drips obvious
Radiator leakage
Theromat stuck.
Water pump dead
Internal coolant leakage into block


List above is from easiest to check and also least expensive.
After the water pump, you will need to evaluate the value of the vehicle

Or hopefully not blown head-gasket, driving it in an overheating condition is a really bad idea, specially if the car has aluminum heads (and most do these days..

 

[phucheneh]

On that car, like 95%+ of overheat conditions are one of two problems.

If it does it in traffic: cooling fan/fan control module (IIRC they come as an assembly).

If it does it on the highway: stuck thermostat.

 

[Zenmervolt]

On that car, like 95%+ of overheat conditions are one of two problems.

If it does it in traffic: cooling fan/fan control module (IIRC they come as an assembly).

If it does it on the highway: stuck thermostat.

It does it after an owner who doesn't know enough to mix anti-freeze 50/50 with water somehow manages to drain and refill the system (almost certainly without bleeding it): Air pockets.

It does it after the owner has continued to drive it despite the temperature gauge going into the red: causes head gasket failure and a warped head.

Bottom line: OP should not, under any circumstances, attempt futher diagnosis or repair himself. OP needs to leave this one to professionals.

ZV

 

[Mide]

my guess is that the OP only removed the coolant he could see from the overflow tank and didn't actually perform a full drain/refill. If this is the case, only a certain portion of his coolant system is out of spec with more than a 50/50 ratio. As others have stated none of this would help fix or cause his original problem about boiling over.

Take to shop pronto.

 

[slackerinabox]

Took it to the shop this morning, the mechanic said the coolant boiling over was a symptom not the cause. A fan broke in the engine, a simple repair. Phew.