Step 1: Coolant Check

A coolant check starts with safety. Your vehicle is parked up securely. Safety protection; put your glasses and gloves on. You’ve popped the bonnet and VERY importantly; your engine is COLD.

Locate the coolant reservoir. It is usually a clear or opaque plastic container marked with the word coolant, or a logo depicting this on the cap. If there is any confusion, your owners manual will show where it is.

Take a peek down the side and you’ll see minimum and maximum level markers. If your coolant level sits between these two, you’re super!

If you’re having a little trouble finding the reservoir, it could be that your vehicle doesn’t have one. You’ll be removing the radiator pressure cap instead, so again make sure your engine is COLD.

With the radiator cap off, your coolant level should be right up to where the cap sits. If not, you need a coolant top up.

Step 2: Choosing The Right Coolant

We’ve established that water isn’t up to the task, but choosing the wrong colour coolant or mixing colours isn’t good either.

The colouring is important, because certain chemistries don’t mix well, and the wrong coolant can damage your engine.

Unless it’s the YELLOW universal top up coolant; you should NEVER mix colours.

A quick flip through your owner’s manual will reveal the coolant specifications for your car which you can match up with the correct coolant at Supercheap Auto.

Or you can use the Supercheap Auto website. Pop your rego into the my garage feature, and browse the selection of coolants to easily see which type suits your vehicle.

Step 3: How to Top Up Coolant

Following the same precautions as earlier, remove the cap from your reservoir or radiator.

Pop in your funnel, and pour the coolant top up until it is level with the radiator cap; or at the maximum level on your reservoir bottle.