Sponsored

Empty coolant reservoir

Nolander

Well-known member
First Name
Scott
Joined
Feb 26, 2024
Threads
13
Messages
108
Reaction score
109
Location
04032
Vehicles
2023 F-150 Lightning Lariat Extended
Occupation
IT
I happened to be poking around my 23 Lariat with ~23K miles this weekend and noticed mine is far below the MIN line. Stopping by the dealer today.
Sponsored

 

Rtashiro

Well-known member
First Name
Ryan
Joined
Jul 1, 2024
Threads
8
Messages
65
Reaction score
37
Location
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Vehicles
F150 lightning lariat, Mustang MachE
The coolant system has many spots for air to hang out. The pump will continue to purge the air into the bottle over several days of driving. You have 9 battery modules each with rubber connection hoses, all within the battery pack. If it leaks inside the pack, that is not good. Leaks outside the pack will show wet spots just a normal truck and can be addressed. The only open port is the bottle, and no overflow is intended by design so try to refill to the mid-point just incase you have refilled the system with that last dose.
I watched the Monroe tear down of the battery and inside the battery is a large cooling plate that the coolant runs through and the modules sit on top. The connections are on the outside of the battery casing. Thus hoses are not connected to the modules themselves and the coolant also doesn’t go into the battery modules themselves. Correct me if I’m wrong.
 

SmoothJ

Well-known member
First Name
John
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Threads
70
Messages
1,193
Reaction score
895
Location
New Jersey
Vehicles
2022 F150 Lightning
When I had my battery module replaced, I had the same issue. I went to the dealer a few weeks later, and they added a little bit to the reservoir and its been stable since. As others have said, air will works it way though the system and it will eventually use the reservoir.
 

Rtashiro

Well-known member
First Name
Ryan
Joined
Jul 1, 2024
Threads
8
Messages
65
Reaction score
37
Location
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Vehicles
F150 lightning lariat, Mustang MachE
After reading this thread I decided to check my level and it is sitting right at the min level in reservoir. This is with the truck cold after sitting over night. Is this a concern? What temp should you check level at? Truck is about 18 months old with 30000 km (19000 miles)
 

TaxmanHog

Moderator
Moderator
First Name
Noel
Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Threads
205
Messages
15,030
Reaction score
16,585
Location
SE. Mass.
Vehicles
2022 Lightning Lariat-ER & 2024 HD Road Glide CVO-ST
Occupation
Retired
After reading this thread I decided to check my level and it is sitting right at the min level in reservoir. This is with the truck cold after sitting over night. Is this a concern? What temp should you check level at? Truck is about 18 months old with 30000 km (19000 miles)
No, early reports including my truck MY22 & many more observed it being at that level, I did increase mine closer to the upper limit, hasn't changed in 3+ years, I measured mine at ambient temp's
 

Sponsored

Altivec

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2024
Threads
1
Messages
190
Reaction score
330
Vehicles
2023 Lightning Platinum, 2014 Cadillac ELR
Just a question to all you guys that experienced low battery coolant. Did you guys receive any warnings on the dash or the app? I mean, there are a million sensors in this truck, including windshield fluid. Please tell me they didn't cheap out by neglecting to put a low battery coolant sensor.
 

DCAZEV

Member
First Name
David
Joined
Sep 23, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
21
Reaction score
6
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Vehicles
2023 F-150 Lightning Lariat ER / Avalanche / Max Tow / Power Deployable Boards
Occupation
Aviation Services
Just a question to all you guys that experienced low battery coolant. Did you guys receive any warnings on the dash or the app? I mean, there are a million sensors in this truck, including windshield fluid. Please tell me they didn't cheap out by neglecting to put a low battery coolant sensor.
Nope, no warning at all. I happened to have the frunk open and I saw the reservoir tank and the "liquid" was below the "minimum" line. I immediately went to this forum to research what this was. After reading numerous threads on here, I figured out the issue. I purchased the truck used in September 2024. It's a 2023 Lariat E/R (Production date of 09/23). Not sure if it was the first time that it had gotten that low or not. I noticed this issue in June of this year (2025). I filled it up to the "max" line. I checked it again last week (August 2025) and it was still above the minimum line. I added a little bit more. Note: I live in AZ and right now the temps have been in excess of 110. I also use the truck for work, where I leave it "on" for 8 to 12 hours a day.
 

MaintGrl

Well-known member
First Name
Marsha
Joined
Dec 21, 2023
Threads
8
Messages
503
Reaction score
492
Location
El Sobrante, Ca
Vehicles
2023 XLT Lightning, Anti-Matter Blue SR (311a)
Occupation
Retired CWEA Grade 3 Maintenance Technician
Bought mine new and it was a bit low after a few months so got this to keep on hand.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BNVK1NQ
Hum, so which is it . . Orange pre-diluted, or Yellow pre-diluted? Web page with a picture of one, and the description of the other...I don't know why Amazon has such a hard time with documentation
 

TaxmanHog

Moderator
Moderator
First Name
Noel
Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Threads
205
Messages
15,030
Reaction score
16,585
Location
SE. Mass.
Vehicles
2022 Lightning Lariat-ER & 2024 HD Road Glide CVO-ST
Occupation
Retired

jimfigler

Well-known member
First Name
Jim
Joined
Sep 13, 2022
Threads
35
Messages
1,100
Reaction score
918
Location
Orchard park, NY
Vehicles
23 Lightning Lariat ER, 21 Corvette Convertible
woe!! Love your optimism but that's not good. It's not normal to lose that much coolant. Hopefully you don't have a hole in one of your lines somewhere. I would have it checked out if I were you asap. I know you said its working fine but it only takes once to fry your batteries and end up on the side of the road with a huge battery bill to pay. Its way too late to say I have a problem then.
most early lightnings were delivered new with barely 1/2 inch of coolant in those tanks. many posted about it.
 

Sponsored

PJnc284

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
605
Reaction score
589
Location
Garner, NC
Vehicles
2023 Ford F150 Lightning Lariat ER
Last edited:

Altivec

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2024
Threads
1
Messages
190
Reaction score
330
Vehicles
2023 Lightning Platinum, 2014 Cadillac ELR
Nope, no warning at all. I happened to have the frunk open and I saw the reservoir tank and the "liquid" was below the "minimum" line. I immediately went to this forum to research what this was. After reading numerous threads on here, I figured out the issue. I purchased the truck used in September 2024. It's a 2023 Lariat E/R (Production date of 09/23). Not sure if it was the first time that it had gotten that low or not. I noticed this issue in June of this year (2025). I filled it up to the "max" line. I checked it again last week (August 2025) and it was still above the minimum line. I added a little bit more. Note: I live in AZ and right now the temps have been in excess of 110. I also use the truck for work, where I leave it "on" for 8 to 12 hours a day.
That is ridiculous. If there is one sensor that I care to have, it's the one that monitors the fluid that can destroy my truck if a rock hits a line or the rad or something. I didn't know checking the fluid level on this was something I needed to closely monitor. I get that the battery temp gauge would go up, but I doubt it would go up enough to notice unless on a long trip. A lot of wear and tare could be avoided with a simple fluid sensor. In winter time when the battery is supposed to be getting warmed, we probably wouldn't even notice it's not working by the temp gauge. Mine is always right in the centre even when it's really cold or really warm.
 

Joe.....Montana

Well-known member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Apr 3, 2024
Threads
1
Messages
237
Reaction score
368
Location
Montana
Vehicles
2023 Lightning
I have a '23 Lariat purchase new in March of '24. After reading a thread on here (around June May '24) about low coolant levels I checked mine. Coolant level was just below MIN. Took it into local Ford dealership, they topped off for free, coolant line hasn't budged since. I now check about once a month or whenever I pop the frunk for groceries.
 

DCAZEV

Member
First Name
David
Joined
Sep 23, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
21
Reaction score
6
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Vehicles
2023 F-150 Lightning Lariat ER / Avalanche / Max Tow / Power Deployable Boards
Occupation
Aviation Services
That is ridiculous. If there is one sensor that I care to have, it's the one that monitors the fluid that can destroy my truck if a rock hits a line or the rad or something. I didn't know checking the fluid level on this was something I needed to closely monitor. I get that the battery temp gauge would go up, but I doubt it would go up enough to notice unless on a long trip. A lot of wear and tare could be avoided with a simple fluid sensor. In winter time when the battery is supposed to be getting warmed, we probably wouldn't even notice it's not working by the temp gauge. Mine is always right in the centre even when it's really cold or really warm.
Yes, mine has remained in the center for the most part, maybe slightly above on very warm days (in excess of 110) when I first turn the truck on. After driving for about 10 mins or so, it returns to dead center. **Side note: I always drive with either "Sport" or "Tow Haul" on.***
 

PJnc284

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
605
Reaction score
589
Location
Garner, NC
Vehicles
2023 Ford F150 Lightning Lariat ER
That is ridiculous. If there is one sensor that I care to have, it's the one that monitors the fluid that can destroy my truck if a rock hits a line or the rad or something. I didn't know checking the fluid level on this was something I needed to closely monitor. I get that the battery temp gauge would go up, but I doubt it would go up enough to notice unless on a long trip. A lot of wear and tare could be avoided with a simple fluid sensor. In winter time when the battery is supposed to be getting warmed, we probably wouldn't even notice it's not working by the temp gauge. Mine is always right in the centre even when it's really cold or really warm.
No different than having to check the antifreeze/coolant on an ice vehicle
Sponsored

 
 







Top