3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Is a new OEM Air Separator Tank just as good as an aftermarket one?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-09-06, 10:16 PM
  #1  
Rotary!

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
3GRX7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is a new OEM Air Separator Tank just as good as an aftermarket one?

Is it true that t he newly manufactured ASt's are not prone to failure like the one's originally on our cars? I'd like to keep my car as stock as possible, so as preventative maintenance, could I just buy a new one form the dealer?
Old 10-09-06, 10:30 PM
  #2  
Not the company

 
RE-Amemiya's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 5,040
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Not really sure, but aftermarket AST's aren't really that expensive, and it looks like you have very few miles on the car, so you should be allright anyway.
Old 10-09-06, 10:35 PM
  #3  
Lives on the Forum

iTrader: (6)
 
7_rocket's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Toronto
Posts: 7,139
Received 37 Likes on 30 Posts
Originally Posted by 3GRX7
Is it true that t he newly manufactured ASt's are not prone to failure like the one's originally on our cars? I'd like to keep my car as stock as possible, so as preventative maintenance, could I just buy a new one form the dealer?
Just get an aftermarket one because the stock one is plastic, save yourself from when it breaks and coolant starts to spill all over your engine bay
Old 10-09-06, 10:39 PM
  #4  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: california
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
you could buy ths stock plastic one and worry about it cracking and over heating your motor. or buy the pettit one and have peace of mind and be done with it. I don't think the stock one is made any better than before and will cost more than the pettit one. with the high under hood temps of our vehicles why would you want to put plastic back in the car?
Jeff
Old 10-09-06, 10:46 PM
  #5  
Boost Addict

iTrader: (3)
 
nashman69g's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Metairie, LA near new orleans
Posts: 1,898
Received 13 Likes on 8 Posts
Check out my AST...it doesn't look that out of place...I also think its easier to get to! It bolts in the same place as the old AST.

Old 10-09-06, 10:50 PM
  #6  
Sponsor
iTrader: (41)
 
IRPerformance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: NJ
Posts: 11,347
Received 317 Likes on 190 Posts
No, ALL the stock ones will crack in time. As far as I know, the part has never been updated. I prefer to eliminate them using the 2nd gen cap flange that has the extra nipple.
Old 10-09-06, 10:50 PM
  #7  
Junior Member

 
samurai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Aruba Dutch Caribbean
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is a new OEM Air Separator Tank just as good as an aftermarket one?

Not really my friend
The intensive heat of the engine, coolant and presure build up makes them prone to failure when you least espect it. Engine overheat is deadly for a Rotary engine.
I would defenetly recomend you to use an Alumium After market Air Separator Thank.

93' rx7 Pearl Dark Blue, C1 Veilside BodyKit, Mild Street Port, 3mm Apex Seals,
Single Turbo T 60/1, et.c etc.
Old 10-09-06, 10:55 PM
  #8  
Lives on the Forum

 
rynberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: San Lorenzo, California
Posts: 14,716
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Mileage means nothing...the plastic degrades over time. You could just buy a new OEM AST every 5 years if that suits you....
Old 10-10-06, 12:15 AM
  #9  
Archie is Gay

 
fsae_alum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by rynberg
Mileage means nothing...the plastic degrades over time. You could just buy a new OEM AST every 5 years if that suits you....

Correct...mine let go at 43K miles. It was 13 years old. As rynberg said, it's all about time (and heat cycling), not miles.
Old 10-10-06, 04:10 AM
  #10  
Full Member

 
Zebb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sweden
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Powder coat it matt or satin black if you want it to look stock.
Old 10-10-06, 11:08 AM
  #11  
Don't worry be happy...

iTrader: (1)
 
Montego's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6,846
Received 787 Likes on 463 Posts
I had problems with my pettit sealing properly. Apparently this is not rare. I went back to stock once my AST starts turning green it's time to buy a new one
Old 10-10-06, 11:24 AM
  #12  
Moderator

iTrader: (7)
 
dgeesaman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Fort Kickass
Posts: 12,302
Received 16 Likes on 15 Posts
A new OEM tank is just fine for at least 5 years. I'm running a new stock AST just because it's $100 cheaper than an aluminum one and it fits better. Like rynberg said, it's the longevity of the stock tank that is a problem, not the design.

Dave
Old 10-10-06, 02:18 PM
  #13  
~17 MPG

iTrader: (2)
 
scotty305's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Bend, OR
Posts: 3,292
Received 226 Likes on 152 Posts
I remember reading about someone who copied the OEM AST in cast aluminum, I think they were from Australia. It would be a pretty easy job if you've got access to a metal shop: cut the OEM AST in half, press it in sand, pour in molten aluminum. You'd need to weld the aluminum halves together, but most radiator shops would do that for a price. Sand it smooth and paint it black, and most people wouldn't notice that it's not the original.



On another note, have you seen the inside of the factory AST? It's not very impressive...
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/ast-dissected-433610/


-s-
Old 10-10-06, 02:45 PM
  #14  
reliable performance

 
JConn2299's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rynberg
Mileage means nothing...the plastic degrades over time. You could just buy a new OEM AST every 5 years if that suits you....
+1

(although I have a metal one on my car now. Tripoint Engineering sells one that's all black. I wish I had bought that one.)
Old 10-10-06, 05:14 PM
  #15  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
SlingShotRX7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: DC
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just eliminate it and be done with it.
Old 10-10-06, 06:29 PM
  #16  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
tphan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 886
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
installed a Pettit alum unit and immediately had cooling system issue...it was used and leaky at the neck (corrosion).

Return to stock OEM ast and all issue went away.

IMO the aftermarket ast were not designed like it should...they are alum so no bursting but functionality wise there are questions whether it is better than the stock ast.

If stock ast were made of metal than this subject would never surfaced.

IMO.
Old 10-10-06, 06:30 PM
  #17  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
preludesh2000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ohio
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
was thinking about getting rid of it....has anyone had or heard of any problem with doing that....
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Wolf_
Single Turbo RX-7's
3
08-11-15 04:23 PM



Quick Reply: Is a new OEM Air Separator Tank just as good as an aftermarket one?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:05 AM.