Just bought a new -to us- 2020 Clubman S All4 at ~20K miles. While checking the usual suspects upon delivery, I was pleasantly surprised that MINI moved the universal coolant min/max ticks inside the tank. Who wouldn't want to stick their face over a potentially steaming hot source of liquid, right?

I bought MINI coolant and added to the tank. Since it's pretty viscous, I thought I poured more than needed, but the next day it looked OK. Does it look OK? I guess the idea here is "you should read "max" but shouldn't be able to read "min". Assuming that the current level is fine, I'd like to use the outside marking (red arrows in the photo) in place of opening and closing the expansion tank to check levels. Is this what you all do?

Thanks!

 

You don’t check the coolant while it’s hot. And the coolant level (when the engine has cooled) should be between the min and max marks. This information is in the owner’s manual.

 

That is true, only need to check when cool/cold, as you should NEVER remove the cap when warm/hot unless you want some burns on your hand.

If the level starts dropping, even at a very slow rate, take a very close look at your oil cooler/filter housing for leaks. Witness marks from coolant will be below the housing running down the block and oil pan. Regular failure point. Mine had lost over 60oz coolant and never showed it down on the oil pan, since it would regularly evaporate off the block before making it down onto the pan. Only once the housing fully failed did it finally show down on the pan. Good luck on your new purchase!

 

Only when cold. +1

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm well aware of the rule #1 of opening any coolant tanks

I just find it odd that we're required to open a tank to check the coolant level. Other than adding coolant, when was the last time you opened your expansion tank in any car? I've had plenty of cars so far, and I'm just trying to understand the logic -or lack thereof- here, that's all.