How to Tell if a Car Needs Antifreeze
- 1). Wait until the car has been sitting for at least 30 minutes and has had a chance to cool down.
- 2). Open the driver's-side door and locate the hood-release lever--this is usually near the floor of the car. Pull this lever to unlock the hood of the car.
- 3). Walk to the hood of the car and and place your hand under the hood of the car. You will feel a bar just under the hood. Push the bar to the side so that the hood of the car lifts up. Raise the hood prop pole and place it into the hood of the car to hold the hood open.
- 4). Locate the small cap labeled antifreeze, or coolant, in the engine compartment. The cap sits on a clear rectangular container. Locations vary depending on the make of the vehicle, so consult the car's owner's manual for the precise location.
- 5). Examine the side of the clear tank and locate the lines that say "Full" and "Low." If the level of antifreeze, visible through the clear tank, is at or below the "Low" line, the car needs additional antifreeze.
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