Checking The Water Level On 1.4 2005 Vvti

[mashk]

Alright, this is going to seem like a daft question, but where the hell is the water bottle (Not the windscreen washer dispenser) for this? I make it a habit of checking my oil and water regularly, but I'll be damned if I can find the water bottle. The manual doesn't seem to help either.

[Jock Fran]

Next to the radiator on my car!

[mashk]

This looks pretty similar to my engine layout. Can't see the water anywhere.

[Jock Fran]

In that picture it would be covered by the black trim at the front. Just in front of the alternator (which is next to the intake manifold).

I think you can just see the cap in this pic:

[Toyota Red]

This looks pretty similar to my engine layout. Can't see the water anywhere.

the cap is (cant see it on photo) near the red Battery terminal on the RHS(of photo). Look down in there, close to the radiator. The bottle has a longish neck, with a hose which goes down into the bottle(it's really an overflow reservoir, and is not used unless adding or removing coolant from the system). The top should pull off.

Haynes doesn't mention anything about removing the radiator trim, but maybe it is partially obscured.

Remember, dont mix coolants. I'm not sure which coolant is used in yours, being newer than mine.

[Wakey-T-Sport]

orange arrow points to the radiator cap but dont open this when its hot

and blue arrow points to the coolant/water resevior mate

[cabcurtains]

Get your head right in there, just dont burn it on the manifold ;)

[mashk]

This looks pretty similar to my engine layout. Can't see the water anywhere.

the cap is (cant see it on photo) near the red Battery terminal on the RHS(of photo). Look down in there, close to the radiator. The bottle has a longish neck, with a hose which goes down into the bottle(it's really an overflow reservoir, and is not used unless adding or removing coolant from the system). The top should pull off.

Haynes doesn't mention anything about removing the radiator trim, but maybe it is partially obscured.

Remember, dont mix coolants. I'm not sure which coolant is used in yours, being newer than mine.

Okay, I've had a look and found the 'coolant' bottle. It's half way between low and full. I was under the impression that the coolant was water. Judging but it's colour, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Does anyone know if there's a specific Toyota coolant I have to buy?

[Toyota Red]

Okay, I've had a look and found the 'coolant' bottle. It's half way between low and full. I was under the impression that the coolant was water. Judging but it's colour, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Does anyone know if there's a specific Toyota coolant I have to buy?

If it's halfway between, it's probably fine- as long as the hose end is submerged. Keep an eye on it every week or two to make sure the level doesn't change. The bottle you are looking at is an expansion tank, not part of the working fluid of the system per say, but it will be drawn through the hose if required.

The coolant is an ethylene glycol based substance which has corrosion inhibitors in it.

Do not put normal tapwater into the system, it will pose a risk of corrosion. Likewise do not mix different coolants either.

The coolant used by Toyota will be either red or green, mine is 'Toyota Red', not sure if still the same for your newer Corolla. I put a small amount of distilled water(poses less corrosion risk, available cheaply in ASDA) to top mine up, although that is not recommended either as it dilutes the coolant in the system. If you have had your Toyota from new, or it came with a dealer service history, it will likely be Toyota coolant in it, so as long as you get the right stuff, you should be fine.