Where Is the Coolant Reservoir Located?

Reviewed by

Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Technical Reviewer at CarParts.com

Written by CarParts.com Research Team - Updated on January 19th, 2024

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Summary

The coolant reservoir is a storage tank that holds excess engine coolant and regulates the coolant fluid’s movement into and out of the engine cooling system.
You can find the typical coolant reservoir in the engine compartment’s front end, over the radiator with hoses attaching the two parts together.
In some vehicles, the coolant reservoir sits closer to either the driver’s side or the passenger’s side of the engine bay.
Accessing the coolant reservoir is usually as easy as opening the hood. Just look for the opaque storage tank connected to the radiator by one or more hoses.

Contents hide

1. Q: Where Is the Coolant Reservoir Typically Located?

2. Tips on How to Access the Coolant Reservoir

Q: Where Is the Coolant Reservoir Typically Located?

A: You can find the typical coolant reservoir in the engine compartment’s front end. It’s usually found over the radiator with hoses attaching the two parts together. In some vehicles, the container sits closer to either the driver’s side or the passenger’s side of the engine bay.

Vehicle models like the 2012-2017 Toyota Camry XV50 keep their coolant reservoir in the front of their engine compartment. In many vehicles, the reservoir is on the passenger’s side.

The coolant reservoir is a storage tank that holds excess engine coolant. The reservoir also regulates the coolant fluid’s movement into and out of the engine cooling system through its connection to the radiator’s pressure relief valve.

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Pro Tip: Some coolant reservoirs are made to hold pressure. These will be the fill point for the cooling system. The others, like the one pictured below, are only reservoirs. Both of these can come in various different shapes and are typically easy to spot under the hood.

On the left is a coolant reservoir, which won’t have a screw-on cap because it’s not designed to hold pressure. The coolant enters the bottle as it expands and then returns to the radiator as the engine cools and the radiator cap valve ovens.

On the right is a surge tank or “degas” tank designed to hold pressure. This type has a screw-on pressure cap, which is typically the fill point for the cooling system. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian

On the non-pressured reservoir type, when the pressure in the radiator overcomes the radiator cap spring pressure, hot coolant moves through that opening through the little nipple in the side of the radiator filler neck through a hose into the coolant recovery reservoir. The fluid stays in the coolant reservoir until the engine is shut down and the coolant in the radiator contracts, which causes the small valve in the center of the radiator cap to open and allow the coolant to re-enter the radiator. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian

Tips on How to Access the Coolant Reservoir

Accessing the coolant reservoir is usually as easy as opening the hood. Most reservoirs are immediately visible and accessible. A good rule of thumb is to look for the opaque storage tank connected to the radiator by one or more hoses.

Make sure you don’t mistake the windshield washer reservoir for the coolant reservoir. The former is usually smaller than the latter, and its hoses connect to the windshield washer nozzles instead of the radiator.

About The Authors

Reviewed By Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Technical Reviewer at CarParts.com

Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.

Written By CarParts.com Research Team

Automotive and Tech Writers

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