first I will say that I haven't driven the car since I noticed the pitifully low coolant level.
I was just checking some fluids (the engine was cool, hadn't driven it that day) and noticed that I couldn't see the liquid level inside the coolant resivoir. I thought the resivoir was just unclear, so I took the cap off, and there was just a few little puddles of coolant. not even enough to be sucked up through the hose.
I checked the radiator cap, no fluid there, either. the cap wasn't dry so there might be a little coolant somewhere in the system.

I was shocked that the engine hadn't overheated. the temp gauge works, but apparently the coolant warning light does not. The connector on top of the radiator isn't connected to anything.

There are no leaks, at least there are no puddles of coolant anywhere. I haven't added coolant since I got the car a week ago. It's not my dily driver, but I drove it 160 miles home and have driven around some last weekend with no problems at all

Anyone know how this is possible?

I'm flushing out and refilling the coolant system before I start the car again.

 

holy ****

 

ftw

 

easily possible, depending on which system you have the water level may be below visible sight but high enough to still be to the top of the engine/water pump housing so it is still circulating. i wouldn't make it a habit of testing how low you can run the car on coolant though.

 

The coolant sensor is what's suppose to be on top of the radiator.

And if you just got that car give it a full tune up.

 

all the coolant (or most of it anyway) was in the radiator. I drained it out, flushed it and put in new antifreeze

the coolant that drained out looked fine, so i probably just needed to add some instead of flushing it all out

 

There are TWO things here you can rest assured of:
1. You do have "some" coolant as evidenced by the fact that it has not burnt up the
engine
2. When you run it without coolant, I mean NO COOLANT, your engine will fry. Take
this to the bank.