I've read many posts that indicate our stock coolant overflow tanks are pretty suspect for reliability...

Well, since everyone replaces the OTHER problematic component, the AST, with an aluminum one, why not the coolant overflow tank as well?? After doing a search, I wasn't able to find any posts on the subject...

I have the M2 AST eliminator so I was thinking I could take out the plastic overflow tank and put a small, aluminum coolant overflow tank where the AST used to reside.

Here's my reasoning:

1) eliminate the possibility of a cracked overflow tank.

2) all major coolant components are now in close proximity.

3) add a little bling


Anyone see a problem with this? Here is the one I was going to use....

 

Here's a pic of one installed...

 

Looks nice. It seems to me that your replacement tank should have a similar capacity to the stock tank. I don't know what that is, however.

 

I haven't heard of the overflow tank as being a problem.

 

Me either. It's not even under pressure; it just sits there.

 

I concur. But damn that looks pretty nice! Good job. Where did you get that set up?

 

Many people have problems with their tank such as overflowing and loosing coolant. Although the overflowing is another problem in itself, the tank should help keep the coolant from overflowing, and eventually overheating the engine from lack of coolant.

 

Many people have problems with their tank such as overflowing and loosing coolant. Although the overflowing is another problem in itself, the tank should help keep the coolant from overflowing, and eventually overheating the engine from lack of coolant.

 

If your tank is overflowing like that it is time for a new engine not an overflow tank. You are fixing a symptom rather than the illness.

 

Right. The tank is in fact two pieces: the "funnel" and the reservoir. The funnel is not sealed to the reservoir but merely slips inside. So if the tank is somehow overfilled, it of course overflows. This is no fault of the tank.

 

I just saw this tank and exact pics on ebay.. I don't think the pics are from FD..

 

I noticed that when I removed my overflow tank. However, the new one was sealed at the joint! Am I supposed to take off the seal and leave a gap at the joint? What's going to happen if the seal remains?

 

It will work either way, no concern to you. Just put it in there.

 

doesnt the overflow tank have a check valve in the hose that goes out to the AST??? the check valve will allow the water to flow which way, if indeed it is a check valve. hmm, i have to recheck my hose. i dont recall if i put the check valve back in.
okay i was just talking to myself. i remember what happened. the check valve HAS to be important(again, if it is a check valve). i replaced that hose with just a piece of hose from autozone(PS hose i think). that makes me an idiot now since it allows free flowing both ways right. if the system is supposed to be under pressure then this would be the weak point which is what cause my car to get hot a lot. then i decided what the hell, change every hose with factory regardless that its expensive. i did this and cooling went back down.
i no longer know what i am babbling about. if it makes sense cool, if not its cause i work nights and im tired
kris

 

that pic is of a chevy motor. dist in back

 

okay, im postwhoring now but this is the hose im referring to. there is something that seperates the hose, what is it and why is it there?
kris

 

No.


The overflow bottle is not under pressure. In fact it cannot hold pressure, it has a vent hole in the top of it.

 

The overflow tank cracks and leaks coolant. With me and many others, it cracks on the bottom, but you cant see the crack. when you drive the coolant gets hot the car getswarm and the crack expands. No danger while you are driving but when you park it goes in the tank and leaks on the driveway. I replaced mine over a year ago and no problems.

 

damn this forum sometimes
its the tank to overflow hose on this page. the forum hates me
kris

 

you guys are right. thanks for clearing that up zerobanger and damonB. would make sense too, i remember my old school cars(cheap ghetto ride before i made money) with 350's that had the same cheap looking bottles. no way can these hold pressure
kris



according to the west forum, zerobanger is a postwhore himself

 

Overflow tanks are not pressured.. Well, I'm little late to say..

But to clearify little more, the heat expands the liquid (coolant) and as it expands, pressure builds, it needs to leave the engine area or it will bust thru your coolant seals.. or most likely it will bust your coolant filler top.. So, the pressure needs to be relieve.. and one way is to let the coolant flow out to decrease the pressure.. when it flows out.. it goes into the overflow tank.... when the coolant cools down, the coolant flows back in via the lines hooked up the the coolant reserve.. Don't get confused about overflow tank being pressurized.. its not..

 

Those would make a awsome catch can!!!

STEPHEN

 

i'm using the greddy catch can for an overflow tank....

 

That's what I'm referring to...


My main goal in trying this is to **prevent** the posibility of a cracked overflow tank [and add a little bling in the process].


The second pic was to simply illustrate what one looks like installed on a car - it's a pic of a hot rod from ebay - I haven't received my kit yet.

 

That is looking quite nice there...