What should you do if you discover that the coolant in the vehicle radiator needs topping up during a long journey?
- A Hose down the engine to cool it before refilling
- B Let it cool before removing the filler cap
- C Keep the engine running and fill it with coolant immediately
- D Keep driving, as the fan will cool the engine
Why this is the answer
You should check the coolant level frequently, particularly before a long journey, and top it up as necessary. The need to top up often might indicate a leak or other fault in the cooling system. Have it checked by your garage or dealer.
Why the other answers don't fit
- A
- Hose down the engine to cool it before refilling — Cold water on a hot engine can crack the block.
- C
- Keep the engine running and fill it with coolant immediately — Removing the cap on a hot, running engine releases boiling coolant under pressure.
- D
- Keep driving, as the fan will cool the engine — The fan cannot cool an engine that has run out of coolant.
Where this comes from
- Driving: the essential skills — section 14
Rule numbers link to The Highway Code on gov.uk.
Where this question comes from
The question, its options and the explanation are reproduced word for word from the DVSA revision question bank under licence. The licence requires them to appear unaltered, so we cannot reword them and neither can anyone else — that is why you will meet the same wording on other sites. Everything else on this page is written by Theory Hub: the explanation of why each wrong answer is wrong, the topic guide and the revision notes.
Asked in: Driving Instructor (ADI Part 1)
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