Coolant overflow tank is empty, do I add antifreeze to it?

There is no "radiator cap" on the Alero. It has a pressurized recovery tank (overflow bottle) integrated into the cooling system. Unlike other cooling systems where you can add coolant to the coolant reservoir when the engine is hot as there is no pressure in the reservoir, these tanks are at full system pressure and must be allowed to cool down in order to check levels and/or add coolant. This is the only place in the system that allows for coolant input.

Open the container of antifreeze. Using a separate EMPTY gallon-size container, pour out HALF of the contents into the empty container, making sure not to spill any. Now, FILL the newly filled container with tap water. Fill the rest of the antifreeze with water, also. Now, you are ready to add antifreeze to your vehicle! Simply locate the radiator cap, (Don't touch it if it's hot!!) and unscrew it. Pour the desired amount of your mixed antifreeze into the radiator. Remember not to do this without proper knowledge!

engine running too hot.check coolant level, should be 50/50 antifreeze and water.replace thermostat and radiator pressure cap.check antifreeze level in the radiator,coolant level should be just below radiator cap, add coolant to overflow jug,should alway be at the full cold mark.empty coolant overflow jug will allow air be drawed in the coolant system causing overheating.if overheating happens when coming to a long stop.could have faulty engine coolant temperature sensor or bad coolant fan fuse or relay.

Raise the car front end as high as possible with a floor jack, fill the coolant tank to the top, run the engine until it reaches just short of overheating, shut it down and run water over the radiator, this will burp the air out. Repeat as needed. Don't let the coolant recovery tank run dry during procedure.

Through the expansion tank filler, you will need to drain some fluid off first.

Probably from the overflow hose reservoir next to the radiator. When a car is ran it heats up and the coolant expands into the reservoir and some may go out the overflow hose. When it cools down there will be coolant in the white plastic reservoir and the engine will **** that up back into the engine until it fills up and the process will start over again. Just make sure the reservoir has fluid in it.

IT DEPENDS SOME OLDERS CARS USE GREEN ANTIFREEZE.MOST NEWER VECHICLE USE DEXCOOL ORANGE ANTIFREEZE.YOU NEED TO LOOK UP TO SEE WHAT TYPE ANTIFREEZE VECHICLE USE BEFORE PUTTING ANY IN SYSTEM.IF YOUR CAP SAY COOLANT THEN THATS WHERE YOUR ANTIFREEZE GOES.

Both the 4.0L and 4.7L engines use 195� thermostats for all model years from 1999-2004. When replacing a thermostat it is very important to install one with the same temperature rating (the only exception might be with certain performance modifications or chips that recommend or require a different temperature thermostat).

4.0L engine - Draining the cooling system WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE THE CYLINDER BLOCK DRAIN PLUGS OR LOOSEN THE RADIATOR DRAINCOCK WITH SYSTEM HOT AND UNDER PRESSURE. SERIOUS BURNS FROM COOLANT CAN OCCUR.

1. DO NOT remove radiator cap first. With engine cold, locate radiator draincock on the right lower side of radiator facing to rear of vehicle.
2. Attach one end of a hose to the draincock. Put the other end into a clean container. Open draincock and drain coolant from radiator. This will empty the coolant reserve/overflow tank. The coolant does not have to be removed from the tank unless the system is being refilled with a fresh mixture. When tank is empty, remove radiator cap and continue draining cooling system. To drain the engine block of coolant, remove the cylinder block drain plug, located on the side of cylinder block below the exhaust manifold.

4.0L engine - refilling the cooling system Coolant recommendations and cautions: The recommended mixture is 50/50 ethylene-glycol and low mineral content water. Never use pure antifreeze. Only Mopar Antifreeze Coolant, 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula (glycol base coolant with corrosion inhibitors called HOAT) is recommended. This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50% distilled water. Antifreeze mixture must always be at least 44%, all climates year round. Maximum protection (-90d) is provided with a 68% mixture protection. If the percentage is lower than 44 percent, engine parts may be eroded by cavitation, and cooling system components may be severely damaged by corrosion. CAUTION: Mopar Antifreeze/Coolant, 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula (MS-9769) may not be mixed with any other type of antifreeze. Mixing of coolants other than specified (non-HOAT or other HOAT), may result in engine damage that may not be covered under the new vehicle warranty, and decreased corrosion protection.

CAUTION: Do not use coolant additives that are claimed to improve engine cooling. 4.0L coolant capacity: 1999-2000: 13.0 qts. (including 2.3 qts. for resevoir) 2001-2004: 15.0 qts. (including 1 qt. for resevoir)

1. Tighten the radiator draincock and the cylinder block drain plug(s) (if removed).
2. Fill system using a 50/50 mixture of ethyleneglycol antifreeze and low mineral content water. Fill radiator to top and install radiator cap. Add sufficient coolant to the reserve/overflow tank to raise level to FULL mark.
3. With heater control unit in the HEAT position, operate engine with radiator cap in place.
4. After engine has reached normal operating temperature, shut engine off and allow it to cool. When engine is cooling down, coolant will be drawn into the radiator from the reserve/overflow tank.
5. Add coolant to reserve/overflow tank as necessary. Only add coolant to the reserve/overflow tank when the engine is cold. Coolant level in a warm engine will be higher due to thermal expansion. To purge the cooling system of all air, this heat up/cool down cycle (adding coolant to cold engine) must be performed three times. Add necessary coolant to raise tank level to the FULL mark after each cool down period.

For more details, you can refer to the Jeep WJ Service Manual Section-07-Cooling-System-Ewj7

Hope helped.

1. Start with a stone cold engine
   
   
2. Open the radiator cap
   
   
3. Open the radiator drain plug and let out as much coolant as will drain';
   
   
4. Replace drain plug and refill the sytem with distilled water
   
   
5. Run the engine for for few minutes until it is warm (not hot);
   
   
6. Repeat steps #3, #4 and #5 until you've effectively replace all of the coolant with distilled water. You'll know your finished draining the system when only clear water drains out.
   
   
7. Drain the system one last time (now only residual distilled water should be in your cooling system);
   
   
8. **** out all the coolant in the overflow tank (I use a Turkey baster or a huge syringe with a short length of rubber tubing.)
   
   
9. Replace the radiator drain plug.
   
   
10. Add undiluted anti-freeze to the system;
    
    
11. Run the engine to mix the distilled water already in the cooling system with the newly added antifreeze.
    
    
12. Check the antifreeze/water concentration with a tester.
    
    
13. Over the next few days, adjust to the desired antifreeze/water mixture over the next several days. You'll likely have to **** out a little coolant mixture from the fill cap to create room for either the distilled water or the anit-freeze you'll be adding to adjust to the desired concentration. Sometimes I adjust by adding either water or antifreeze to the coolant- overflow tank which utimately mixes with the engine coolant;
    
    
14. Don't forget to add collant and/or water to the coolant overflow tank.

Always fill you radiator & resevoir with a 50/50 mix of coolant / water. Your vehicle should have dexcool which is a red/orange colored coolant. You can buy a universal equivalent which is premixed and is yellow (not green). It is safe to add universal coolant but not green antifreeze. Premixed (it will say on jug) would be your safe bet. Fill the radiator, add to overflow tank to full cold line, run vehicle until fully warmed up. Let cool back down & then recheck.
Don't forget to check for leaks....it is not normal to have your coolant get that low. You likely are leaking coolant.

If this helps please rate me!
You can do it.
Brett