Is this normal?

[azzx]

Hey guys,

The coolant level in the recovery tank on my truck is always sitting at the "Min" level.
I have filled it to the Max line a couple of times so far. but, it goes to the min level after a few days.
Took it to the dealer a while back and they told me that the cant find any leaks.
I dont see (based on a surface) inspection any leaks

Thanks

 

[Eighty]

If you don’t have external leaks and you’re losing coolant, then the most likely explanation is your engine is ingesting it (which would not be good). Ever see a bit of smoke at startup, or at any other time for that matter?

 

[azzx]

I have not seen (because not looking for it) any smoke of any color.
will look next time I start the cold engine.

 

[BowDown]

I have not seen (because not looking for it) any smoke of any color.
will look next time I start the cold engine.

Do you smell any coolant being consumed? You'd smell a slightly sweet odor. Also, with the engine running, look at the coolant reservoir and see if you see bubbles. With the heater on, see if you smell coolant in the cab, could be the heater core

 

[azzx]

No coolant smells like on my 2019 Hemi.
I live in AZ so no need to turn on the heater.
Will try the heater

 

[azzx]

Can any of you with a 2025+ SST engine look at your coolant reservoir, please?

 

[Snekpete]

It is entirely normal. Do not listen to the "leakers". I have two Fords and a RAM, they all do it. It must be evaporating out of the overflow container. Just leave it at the MIN level. After a year or two when it gets lower than that add a pint. Keeping it at MAX just wastes antifreeze.

 

[mikeru82]

ls the engine hot or cold when you're checking coolant level? Does it ever go below the MIN mark? I'm with Pete in saying this might just be normal, but I don't think it's evaporation. I think it has more to do with expansion and contraction, and the fact that the engine will push out coolant from the overflow bottle if it expands enough.

 

[azzx]

I check it when the engine is cold -- Have no idea if it goes below the minimum level beyond that.
So, if it is expansion/contraction --- when I add coolant to the max line, should it not change the level at the cold setting to read higher? so -, the coolant is going somewhere --

 

[mikeru82]

I check it when the engine is cold -- Have no idea if it goes below the minimum level beyond that.
So, if it is expansion/contraction --- when I add coolant to the max line, should it not change the level at the cold setting to read higher? so -, the coolant is going somewhere --

Like I said in my previous post, if it's expanding enough it gets pushed out of the recovery tank...onto the ground. When it cools back down it's at the MIN level. Check the level when the engine is at its hottest.

It's just a theory from what I experienced when I owned a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. I had a very similar experience to what you described. Coolant was at the MIN level of the recovery tank and there was a slight odor of anti-freeze when I bought it used. Dealership said they topped off the coolant before I bought it. Because of the coolant smell (even though there was no indication of a leak) I added coolant and drove it for a few days. When I checked it again (cold) it was back to MIN. So I added more coolant and drove it for a few days. Same thing when I checked it again. So I added more coolant and went for a drive. Checked the level when the engine was hot and it was at the top of the recovery tank. Smell of coolant was stronger. What appeared to be happening is the coolant was expanding so much that it pushed the excess coolant out of the recovery tank. When it cooled back down it was at the MIN mark. So I stopped adding coolant. In the four years I had that vehicle I never had to add coolant again and it never dropped below the MIN mark.

I can't say with any certainty that's what's going on with your truck of course. It's just what came to my mind when I read your thread.

 

[azzx]

Drove for 20 minutes -- not all the way up to operating temp. Coolant level came up above the min level. Your explanation makes sense.
Thanks

 

[BowDown]

Can any of you with a 2025+ SST engine look at your coolant reservoir, please?

Mine was slightly below min a month ago, I added coolant to both it and the intercooler reservoir and they haven't moved when checked cold. I do expect that If I looked when hot that it would be slightly above max hot

 

[Ramintime]

The coolant tank is actually called an expansion tank. It should never be at the full mark or above, if it is...that means its over pressurized. At the min mark...its just a small amount thats left that the engine doesnt really need. Totally normal.

 

[Eighty]

I think everyone has lost track of the actual question/problem. OP fills up tank to max line, and the coolant mysteriously drains off to the min line every few days. This is not normal, and it's not "evaporation". That's a crap-ton of coolant that is going somewhere.
Sure, if you overfill the tank, you could possibly get some blow out of the cap. But certainly not back down to the min line. And you'd notice a huge mess in the engine compartment. OP has not noted any signs of leaks. So where is the coolant going?

 

[mikeru82]

If he’s adding coolant above the MIN mark when the engine is cold he’s overfilling it and it’s getting pushed out of the tank. He’s checking the level with the engine cold and it’s at the normal level when cold (MIN). Mystery solved. We shouldn’t make a problem out of something that is normal. He doesn’t need to worry unless it goes below the MIN mark.

 

[Eighty]

If he’s adding coolant above the MIN mark when the engine is cold he’s overfilling it and it’s getting pushed out of the tank. He’s checking the level with the engine cold and it’s at the normal level when cold (MIN). Mystery solved. We shouldn’t make a problem out of something that is normal. He doesn’t need to worry unless it goes below the MIN mark.

I disagree. I keep my coolant near the max mark (when cold), and I’ve NEVER had it suddenly drain down to the min level. It’s never flowed out of my tank. Or evaporated, or otherwise mysteriously disappeared. Coolant just doesn’t do that. If it was boiling out, there would be evidence.

 

[mikeru82]

I disagree. I keep my coolant near the max mark (when cold), and I’ve NEVER had it suddenly drain down to the min level. It’s never flowed out of my tank. Or evaporated, or otherwise mysteriously disappeared. Coolant just doesn’t do that. If it was boiling out, there would be evidence.

That’s fine, you can disagree. I’m going on my experiences with the Pathfinder I mentioned in my earlier post, which was doing the exact same thing as the OP’s truck with the Hurricane. I have zero experience with the new platform. But the OP hasn’t said anything about it ever dropping below the MIN level. It stands to reason that it would drop below that if coolant was going anywhere else.