No coolant but not overheating!

[xz96]

99 explorer 4.0 sohc

I checked the coolant reservoir today and it's empty
this is what it looks like when i open the reservoir:

Then I opened radiator cap, it's empty as well...

I didn't experience overheating issue, temperature gauge is at middle, most of time at cold.

What should I do next? the shop is not open today, can i still drive it? Or do i need to get it towed to the shop tomorrow?It's not far, like 5min drive at 45mph

I didn't know how long it's been empty, never checked it before since 2013.

I drove the truck 20miles yesterday, everything seems fine

 

[JimMadsen]

Just because you do not see anything in the radiator, does not mean its empty. Or that the system is empty. Recently when I replaced my radiator, it only took about 2 containers of coolant. There is more in the engine.

Crawl under the car and remove the lower brush guard directly under the radiator. 2 10mm bolts I think on each side. Look for coolant in the guard. Fill and burp the radiator while looking for where it all went to.

 

[koda2000]

yeah, my 2WD '00 5.0 Mountaineer had the same issue (leaky radiator tank near the top). never overheated because there was still enough coolant in the system to do the job. never leaked unless you tried to fill the radiator. replaced the radiator.

 

[chefduane]

Maybe a problem with the guage? Just because its stuck in the middle doesn't mean the engine isn't getting excessively hot. I wouldn't drive it until I'd diagnosed the problem.

Chef Duane

 

[xz96]

yeah, my 2WD '00 5.0 Mountaineer had the same issue (leaky radiator tank near the top). never overheated because there was still enough coolant in the system to do the job. never leaked unless you tried to fill the radiator. replaced the radiator.

so do i need to send the car to mechanic? or i can just live with dat.. how do i know how much coolant is left in the system?and how do i add coolant to the system if if my truck breakdown on the road?

 

[koda2000]

so do i need to send the car to mechanic? or i can just live with dat.. how do i know how much coolant is left in the system?and how do i add coolant to the system if if my truck breakdown on the road?

well, i ran it the way it was all winter and installed a new radiator in the spring. i don't know how long you can get away with running it as is. if you want to/have to wait a while, carry a gallon or two of 50/50 mix with you and keep an eye on the temp gauge. as long as it's not overheating it's fine, but it it overheats you can do damage pretty quickly.

if you can figure out where the leak is (for example, high up on the radiator tank) you'll have some idea of how much coolant is in it. my engine was 100% full and my radiator around 3/4's full.

 

[lobo411]

so do i need to send the car to mechanic? or i can just live with dat.. how do i know how much coolant is left in the system?and how do i add coolant to the system if if my truck breakdown on the road?

Fill a gallon coolant bottle or two with water, and keep them in the truck at all times. Then at least if you lose your coolant you might be able to let the engine cool down, refill with water, and limp to a mechanic.

I had one with me when my head gasket blew on the freeway. I pulled over immediately and refilled the rad with water, which was a dumb thing to do because I could have cracked the block (but didn't), but it was enough water to get me off the freeway to a restaurant. I refilled the system entirely there and limped the 3 miles home.

 

[1998Exp]

If I were you, I wouldn't 'live like dat'. In the good old days of having a lot of guts and not a lot of money I managed to ruin a transmission this way -- and the engine didn't last much longer after the overheating incident either. But hey, it's your truck.

so do i need to send the car to mechanic? or i can just live with dat.. how do i know how much coolant is left in the system?and how do i add coolant to the system if if my truck breakdown on the road?

 

[bill06447]

It probably IS overheating...but with no coolant for the sensor to read, nor to boil out, how would you know?

Bill

 

[xz96]

It probably IS overheating...but with no coolant for the sensor to read, nor to boil out, how would you know?

Bill

i thought the temperature gauge would work even if theres no coolant..

 

[koda2000]

i thought the temperature gauge would work even if theres no coolant..

no, it will not work unless it is submersed in coolant. if the needle is about in the center of its sweep, it's not overheating. when it overheats the needle will go to high and if there's no coolant it will drop to it's lowest position.

no offense, but considering your lack of understanding on this subject, i think it would be best for you to get the problem fixed.

 

[JimMadsen]

so do i need to send the car to mechanic? or i can just live with dat.. how do i know how much coolant is left in the system?and how do i add coolant to the system if if my truck breakdown on the road?

How do you know how much is left? Well if you can't see any, assume none.

How do you add coolant to the system? If you do not know how to safely do this, then stop now and tow to a shop. You can seriously hurt yourself messing with the coolant if you have overheated.

Right now you are looking at a tow charge. Say 100 bucks. Or free with AAA. You drive it and overheat, you can blow hoses, tstat, blocks, head gaskets, a slew of other things. Never drive a car that has no coolant. Bad things will happen.

 

[xz96]

problem solved, it's just a bad radiator cap
thanks for all replys

 

[starseeker16]

I'm sitting side of road in 100 degree heat in San Jose, CA. On a Sunday. Not good.

The water is in the radiator "box thingy" and the fan has resistance. It doesn't appear to have any milk signs in engine oil. The engine oil cap was about to blow earlier, when I opened the hood. I suck. Yes. Any helpers in the area?? Where can I get a radiator Cap if it considered malfunctioned... I'm in Santa Clara off Lawrence Expy I'll upload photos.

Or coolant?? . I put cold water in it.