Hi as the title says. I have no coolant in the expansion tank so im not sure what i need to buy as im not sure what coolant is in there. Can i just fill it up with distilled water? Or do i need to drain it all? Thanks in advance

 

This info is in your handbook, I guess you don't have one so the reason for the post?
You don't quote what MY your XK / XKR is, so this makes it a bit more difficult to give you the right info. However I have a 2005MY XKR and my coolant is ORANGE. I bought 5lts from a Ford Main Dealer Parts dept as the current Fords use the same spec & the engine is a Ford anyway.

 

Steve,
As Trevor says, if you could edit your signature with your car's details it would help others to answer your query with the correct information.

As you have no coolant in the expansion tank I'm assuming that you have the low coolant warning on the dash. Using water will get you out of trouble but you really need to find out where it has gone.

Look for tell tail signs of leakage around the expansion tank, hoses in and out of the radiator and don't forget the overflow bottle behind the left wheel arch lining.

Good luck, hope this helps,

 

+1 on using distilled water until you find the leak. No risk of freezing right now, and you probably should drain and flush the cooling system if you don't know when it was last performed. But not until the leak is located and repaired.

 

+1 on using water until you find and fix the leak. But do it pronto - failures in the coolant systems of these cars can burn your engine up in a heartbeat....

 

Sorry my sig is not coming up for some reason, 2001 4.0L XK8

i cant see what fluid is in there so i have topped it up with de-ironised water and then when i get home i will check to see if has changed colour

also i have no warnings on the dash, i just checked it when i was cleaning the throttle body connectors

 

Signature now visible.

With no coolant in the expansion tank and no warning on the dash, I would not be driving that car anywhere.

Because the temp gauge is nothing more than an idiot light, the first warning you will get is the low coolant warning in the message centre on the dash. It is therefore important that this sensor is working correctly.

Unplug it and see if you then get the warning. If you do, then when you empty the system, reconnect and see if the warning appears again. If not, change the sensor.

 

Where is the sensor? when using dash command the last time i drove it the coolant level was reading a steady 92 celsius the whole drive does that sound about right?

 

The sensor is in the bottom of the expansion tank.

 

Do not understand 'dash command'. But if your engine temperature was 92 celsius that is not the coolant level. The coolant level is a measure of how much coolant is in the reservoir.

 

Dash command is an app you use with a obd2 elm327 device that reads your cars status and gives you live readouts as you drive and it says the coolant temp is 92 when driving maybe this is the engine temp?
here is a screen shot

 

I had a feeling it was an app, and yes, that is coolant temp. Now you just need to get the level sensor and loss of coolant sorted out.

 

There is a lot of grease and stuff on the smaller coolant tank near the radiator so I'm thinking the hose that goes from the bottom of that tank towards the radiator has a split but i couldn't follow the hose as it disappears through towards the front bumper.

would i have to drain the whole system to remove that hose and check?

 

I had the same problem, took car to auto part store and they did a pressure test. It was a bad radiator.

Pressure test takes 2 minutes and will find your leak quick.

 

Look what the previous owner did

Also does the lower rad hose that goes to the thermostat be changed without draining the system. Is there any coolant in it when cold?

 

When I checked my tensioners I had to move the reservoir and the sensor popped out, it would not reseat! I ended up tie wrapping it up so maybe that's what your previous owner did OR he lost fluid as well and masked the LowCoolant indicator, you'll know if there is a sensor still in the bottom of the tank. I'd ended up replacing my reservoir but that isn't your immediate concern

 

there is a little metal clip that holds the connector in place

I replaced the expansion tank with a new one with sensor fitted, when i got the new tank i noticed straight away that the previous owner had broken a lug off the tank and then wound a bolt in to stop it leaking.

i topped the new tank up with water and plugged the sensor in, now its fine with no warning light so it must be the little float in the tank that breaks as i checked the switch and its working fine. atleast i no there will be no leaks from the tank (hopefully)

also i got a sensor level switch for sale if anyone needs it

now to sort this oil leak

 

I thought the coolant in our cars was meant to be orange not purple?
What do i use when i change the coolant now?

 

It should be orange (see notice on your expansion tank cap). Your owner's manual will have the specs. A copy is in the DIY sticky on the main forum page if you don't have one.

If you drain and flush the system, it won't matter what's in there now and at least you'll know it's all good. I would find the leak first to save doing it again.

Until you do, a little more distilled water won't hurt to keep it full.

p.s. I use Prestone DexCool (used by GM)

 

That odd color may be the result of a previous owner mixing 2 types of coolant not knowing they shouldn't be combined.


Dave