Each driver has undergone the frustration of seeing blinking dashboard engine lights and having no idea what they signify.
All indicators are handy, but some are more pressing than others, like the Blue C one.
So what does the blue C mean on Honda Civic? It’s known as the Engine Coolant Temperature Low Indicator Light, alerting you to dangerously low coolant engine temperatures.
The service light will come on for about a minute or two after you turn the key in the ignition, and then it will switch off by itself.
Yet, the culprits vary in cases, igniting your curiosity for all root causes and feasible measures. Keep reading to learn more about this lesser-known safety feature!
What Does The Blue C Mean On Honda Civic
A blue C light Honda Civic often refers to several typical matters, ranging from antifreeze leaks, overheating or overcooling engine, weird noises, and not normal temp gauge readings to frozen coolants.
Antifreeze Leaks
There is a risk that the cooling system’s liquid coolant will spill once the engine coolant light comes on. Any external leaks will become apparent as the coolant escapes from the system.
A blown head gasket can produce internal leaks, a loose cylinder head, a wrapped or cracked head, or a broken engine block, forcing coolant to flow into the oil.
The hydraulic oil level inside the oil pan will rise if the leak is severe. You can notice white vapor clouds in the exhaust fumes wherein an internal leak occurs.
Overheating
Did your car get overheated and not start?
Overheating is one of the cooling system’s significant issues. Water loss due to evaporation is the root of this problem. Extreme heat will lead to some erratic consequences.
For example, water passages, a clogged radiator, a slipping belt, a broken thermostat, late ignition timing, wrong valve timing, too-tight bearings, pre-ignition, engine oil lack, a blocked exhaust system, etc., can all worsen because of the faulty cooling system.
Overcooling
Overcooling indicates an engine’s temperature dropping below its standard range. It’s common in the winter as the heater often breaks down with low temps.
An overly sensitive thermostat or one left permanently open is the overcooling’s significant cause.
The open coolant bypass valve is a contributing factor as well. To this end, take out the thermostat within the engine’s top coolant outlet, check it, and then put it back in.
Feasible consequences of overcooling an engine include:
- The engine never quite gets up to full power.
- Cylinder deterioration or wear.
- Decreased thermal efficiency equals increased fuel use.
- When the oil doesn’t thin down precisely, fluid friction loss rises.
Noise
Take a peek at cooling system noises’ potential causes:
- A dry bearing
- A loose pulley on the pump shaft
- A loose impeller on the shaft
- Too much end coating in the shaft
A silent operation may be achieved by adding water-pump lubricant to the cooling medium.
Improper Temperature Dash Gauge Reading
Issues may come with the temperature indication or gauge on the control panel, causing it to provide inaccurate readings. Replace or fix it if it turns out to be broken.
Using a thermometer, quickly compare the reading on the gauge to the water temperature in the radiator’s top fuel tank for a concise assessment of the situation.
Frozen Coolants
In sub-freezing temperatures, the water in the cooling system might freeze. Aside from rendering the cooling system useless, it might ungodly affect any of its parts.
Before driving, detecting the cooling system for any failure symptoms of frozen coolants is better.
To get the engine up to 200 degrees C while the coolant is frozen, just continue to run it at a slow idle.
Keeping a nearly entire system during this process necessitates constant additions of coolant to compensate for any losses caused by steam generation.
Only when the coolants have circulated through the system is it safe to operate the car.
How To Fix The Blue C Light On Honda Civic
Let The Car Warm Up
The blue coolant light Honda Civic will stop flashing when your auto has sufficient time to warm up. All of the other fluids may perform their functions well accordingly.
Any elements should be lubricated regularly. This way, your transmission fluid will have better control over your speed.
The steering wheel will be safe and efficient since power steering fluid may be dispersed more readily in hydraulic systems.
Also, to reach top-notch performance and safety, examine the car’s operating temperature before every trip and ensure the antifreeze level is in line with it.
When your Honda Civic is running, continue keeping an eye on it. If any changes or weird signs persist, act as soon as possible.
Of note, you must set your eyes on many warning lights, such as the traction control light, ABS light, brake warning light, LED fog lights, pressure warning light, and coolant temperature light (cold light) with distinct display purposes.
It’s best to tell them apart properly to ensure effective car operation.
Inspect The Leak Or Any Issues In The Antifreeze
The antifreeze is correctly matched to the car’s operation conditions if the blue light on dashboard Honda Civic is on.
But once it turns green or black, you may have a coolant leak owing to cold weather conditions or dangerous weather conditions.
Still, if the blue LED lights persist for more than two minutes of driving, your antifreeze may be in jeopardy. Stop your car until it has cooled down entirely before inspecting the antifreeze levels.
If you don’t, you could be injured by a stream of boiling, hot water in the face, which is lethal and causes third-degree burns.
Low antifreeze levels might be the consequence of an undetected tank leak.
Hire a qualified inspector to check it for leaks if you’re uncertain how to DIY. Bring your car into our auto repair facility immediately when it needs work!
Also, Honda Civics’ owners will want to look for flaws that could be the radiator dilemma’s root.
Try changing your thermostat or bypassing your AC belt tensioner whenever your car’s coolant flow isn’t as steady as it once was.
These are both pretty easy solutions that might assist quickly and resolve the hurdles.
It’s time for a tune-up if your Honda is also having trouble with cracked head gaskets or misbehaving water pumps, which are further common concerns with Hondas.
It makes sense to refer to the car owners manual.
Better yet, bring your vehicle with its odd blue coolant light Honda to a repair shop, authorized Honda dealer, or professional technician as soon as the cooling system faults; it could save your day.
FAQs
Can I Drive With A Blue Coolant Light?
No. Most drivers disregard the Honda Civic blue light on dash, which might result in high-priced engine failure.
Stop the car instantly and call a competent mechanic if you see this warning while driving.
Check the coolant level in this case. Never undermine the abnormal coolant level drop.
Can I Put Water Instead Of Coolant?
Yes. But do it in urgent cases. Add water to the radiator once your vehicle’s engine is overheating and your coolant overflow reservoir is nearly or entirely drained.
Do this only if your trip won’t exceed a few miles, and be sure to cleanse the radiator and replenish it with the proper coolant/water ratio later on.
Can I Mix Tap Water With Coolant?
No. Tap water or regular drinking water can’t match engine coolant to a tee.
For distilled water, it’s feasible yet not optimum. In this scenario, soft water is the best.
What Is Honda Blue Coolant?
Honda Blue Coolant is manufactured for Honda auto models to halt long-term corrosion and boil-overs/freeze-ups.
It’s safe to employ it on your cooling system’s metal and nonmetal compounds alike.
How Often Should I Change The Engine Coolant And Why?
You should swap the coolant out for some automobiles every 30,000 miles. Some don’t even have it on the maintenance schedule, much alone changing it. But don’t ever do that!
Coolant can degrade with time because it might be hard to discern from appearances alone.
Even if the coolant reservoir indicates enough coolant in it and the antifreeze and cooling protection are still adequate, a coolant drain and antifreeze flush can be required.
Over time, the coolant may grow more acidic and lose the rust-resistant ability, leading to corrosion.
The car heating system, hoses, radiator, thermostat, water pump, radiator cap, and other cooling system parts are all prone to corrosion attack. An automobile engine might overheat as a result of this.
To Recap!
What does the blue C mean on Honda Civic? Now you should grab the final response. This light indicates some failures related to the coolant, like leaking, freezing, or incorrect temperature.
Get the auto handle by an expert if the hurdles are out of your reach. He will give you the most secure services, leaving no nerve-cracking issues.
Be lucid while facing any matters with the Honda coolant light. Forward this good read to other car owners as well!