What to Look for
If you open the hood of your car, the reservoir for your coolant will be on your radiator. It should be labelled, but if it isn’t don’t worry. Just open your owner’s manual, it will be in there. Check the markings along the side, if the coolant is below the “full” line, then you should remove your radiator cap and fill it up with a mixture that is 50% coolant and 50% water. Just a reminder, many coolants are premixed with water, so be sure to double-check before you pour.
While you’re under the hood, you should also inspect the hoses extending from the radiator to ensure that there aren’t any leaks. Now that you have answers to the question, “what is coolant?” and know how to check your coolant levels, let’s take a look at the signs that you should take your vehicle into our garage.