Battery Coolant and other Fluid Levels FAQ

82288 Views 59 Replies 29 Participants Last post by macdane, 12 mo ago

Steverino

Discussion Starter · Jun 20, 2014 (Edited)

On occasion we read about a Volt owner being stranded or having other issues that require a tow or time in the shop. Sometimes low fluid levels are either the cause or a symptom. Either way, a quick 2 minute visual inspection of the fluid levels once a month is both good practice and could save you some major inconvenience on the side of the road.

Note: there is a Service Campaign #14114 (Bulletin #PI0961C) that instructs the dealer to make sure the battery coolant level is at the top of the label (see below). They are not recalling all cars to have the coolant level raised to the revised level. Instead, the level will be raised either through regular maintenance visits or if the level drops for any reason and triggers the "Service High Voltage Charging System Message". Originally, the coolant level was at the tank's join seam. The new level is higher to provide more leeway before a warning message is triggered. 2012 Service Campaign #14114, RESS Battery Coolant Level Low

What if I get a steady Oil Pressure light on my dash?
You may be low on oil or have a blockage in the oil line. Running the engine low on oil could damage it and it's not covered by the warranty. Press the OnStar Button, and ask them to run a diagnostic. They can provide error code information and tell you whether or not you should visit your dealer. You can also request the DTC numbers, and search for more information on them in our forum.
Should I check my fluid levels?
Yes, a monthly visual check is a good practice to help discover any issues early, before they turn into bigger issues that may leave you stranded and needing a tow to the nearest dealer. This is especially true for the battery coolant fluid.
I have my dealer perform the maintenance inspections. Should I still check my fluid levels?
YES! Even if you have your dealer services your car, it's a good idea to take a look yourself. Some claim their dealer never did the visual inspection and left them stranded as a result. And dealers can make mistakes. Buyer beware.
How long will it take to inspect the fluid levels?
You can make a visual inspection in a few minutes or less. It's easy. A flashlight may help for some.
What should I check?
Facing the open hood and working clockwise: Brake Fluid, Windshield Washer Fluid, Electronics Coolant, Battery Coolant, Engine Oil, and Engine Coolant. Refer to your owners manual for details, but here is a quick visual guide:
What are the correct fluid levels?
Here is a visual guide to 1 Brake Fluid, 2 Electonics Coolant, 3 Battery Coolant, 4 Engine Coolant

For the windshield washer fluid, open the cap and if the tube is empty, top it off.
For the engine oil, see our engine oil FAQ: Oil Change FAQ
TIP - Markings: Use the side of a black Sharpie marker to carefully mark the fill arrows and fill lines like the pictures above (clean & wipe the surface fist). This will make it easier to see if the fluid levels are correct.
TIP - Records: Keep a notebook and note the date and your fluid levels each month. This will make it easier to see if the fluid levels are changing. See downloadable inspection sheet (PDF) below.
TIP - Closing the hood: Drop the hood from about 8 inches to close it. NEVER press the hood closed (it dents).
What if my battery coolant level has dropped?
A fluid level that has dropped since your last inspection could be an early warning of a bigger problem. This is especially true for the battery coolant fluid. Make an appointment with your dealer to determine why the battery coolant has dropped. It could be a normal drop due to trapped air finally being "burped" out, or it could be something more serious like a leak in the sealed battery compartment. If you have a leak inside the battery, you don't want to just continually fill it, as you could flood the inside of the battery. If you notice that it is low and you add more, only to find it goes down again, go to a dealer. Do not continually add coolant.
What if the battery coolant level gets too low?
If allowed to go too low, a sensor in the battery coolant tank will cause a "Service High Voltage Charging System" message to display. The car will no longer take a charge. Filling with more coolant will not reset this code. The dealer can reset and should inspect the coolant system to determine if there is a leak in the radiator, coolant line, inside the closed battery, etc.
What if the fluid level in my brake, engine, electronics, or engine oil have dropped?
Fluid levels for these can be topped off as needed (refer to manual for fluid specs, cautions). Significant drops may indicate a more serious issue and a visit to the dealer may be needed.
To top-off, do I need to buy Dex-Cool concentrate and deionized water and mix them them?
No, there is no need to get a jug of Dex-Cool concentrate and a jug of deionized water and mix them yourself. The safe route is buying GM's ACDelco Dex-Cool Premix. Otherwise you can buy a gallon/3.78L premixed (a pre-diluted "50/50 Premix") at almost any auto supply store, Walmart, etc. It should say it conforms to GM's Dex-Cool standard. It's important de-ionized water was used for the premix, not distilled. This coolant is used in three coolant tanks: Electronics, Battery, and Engine.
What about "topping off" using plain tap water, deionized water, or distilled water?
NO! Want to kill your Volt? The Electronics, Battery, and Engine coolant systems require a 50/50 mixture of Dex-Cool and deionized water. The deionized water/Dex-Cool mixture ensures high-voltage isolation and to prevent the internal corrosion of cooling system components. In contrast, tap water has reactive minerals and impurities the will plate the inside of the cooling system, reduce it's efficiency and can corrode components. Distilled and deionized water alone (without Dex-Cool) are acidic and very corrosive.
Are deionized water and distilled water the same thing?
No, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deionized_water In addition to purity, deionized water has low-conductivity (aka de-ionized) Why? High Voltage! Not only can one get sparking and current drains through the water to ground, dissolved salts exposed to a voltage potential do bad things like plating out on some things, dissolving others.
What about using regular antifreeze solutions?
NO! NEVER add regular green anti-freeze to the Electronics, Battery, and Engine coolant tanks!

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