coolant question with pics

[blackspeedo]

my coolant has slowly been dissapating. about a month ago the coolant was about 2mm below min. now its a good centimeter below minimum. i read some place that coolant is not supposed to be consumed like that and that there could be a problem. i show no signs of leaks tho. i bought some coolant to add, but i asked my mechanic about this and he said to add water in the reservoir and when it gets sucked up it will mix with the coolant. i don't know about that. i thought you were supposed to add water only in a bind. should i just add the coolant? i would like to avoid the dealership as much as possible, so any help would be appreciated.

it was a tad bit higher about a month ago, but now:

 

[LENNY127]

mix coolant with water 50/50 , water cools better but coolant has lower freezing point as well as additives. as far as where the water goes......either it leaks it or it steams it. If it leaks it look for puddles if it steams it (in the form of a busted head gasket) you will have white smoke , not unlike the white smoke we all experience upon start up on a cold morning except this white smoke will be from water being dumped into the combustion chamber rather than the condesation we experience on cold mornings.

 

[ill_eagle94]

Is it colder now than it was a month ago?

 

[blackspeedo]

i brought prestone 50/50 antifreeze/ coolant. is it okay to put that in?

 

[blackspeedo]

it seems to be the same temp

 

[3.slow]

I think of turbo is water cooled too. Coolant goes in a 1600 degree turbo and most of it comes out, the rest is probably vaporized.

 

[shalezoom3]

don't forget if you ever add just water, to make sure you don't use tap water. always use distilled.

 

[redspeed]

Remember that the ms3 uses FL22 Type coolant. Whatever that is.

 

[sephiroth]

mix coolant with water 50/50 , water cools better but coolant has lower freezing point as well as additives..

The additives in coolant prevent the water from forming rust deposits in the system as well as increasing the boiling point of the water. really most cars work best with 70/30.. but 50/50 has better boiling/freezing protection.

 

[shalezoom3]

I have heard 70/30 is better as well, but check you owners manual. Should some odd warranty claim come up with the cooling system and you don't have the "reccommend" mixture it is possible they may not cover the problem.

 

[3.slow]

Water alone has better cooling properties than antifreeze, but does not protect against corrosion.