Plastic Overflow Tank
Discussion
Ford was my first port of call, but unless it has a Ford Part nos then it's not Ford, according to their parts department.! (The mechanics didn't recognise it either).
I think most of the cooling system is Leyland parts. The owner of the scrappy recognised it and thought it looked Leyland Van type, although we searched a couple of vans without success.
I think most of the cooling system is Leyland parts. The owner of the scrappy recognised it and thought it looked Leyland Van type, although we searched a couple of vans without success.
The plastic overflow tank, aka expansion tank, doesn't actually do anything other than store water prior to dumping it on the road when the bottle is full. As an expansion tank, it does not work. I have removed my tank, and the overflow now drains underneath the car. Removing the tank also makes changing the oil filter much easier!
Jas.
Jas.
quote:
Agreed !
I still like to have it though as it will indicate if you have lost coolant as long as you keep it empty
Cheers
Mark
This is exactly the reason for getting a new one. I have some coolant loss, but not sure if its swirl tank pressure cap, swirl tank to expansion tank pipe or the dreaded head gasket! Anyway when I tried to remove the pipe from the plastic expansion tank the small inlet valve snapped, hence the need for a new one.
Lee was right the part no is CRC3015 but having ordered one from Rimmer Bros they are not sure either what car originally had this fit, probably Rover 2000.
Cost was £35!!!
If you have a head gasket gone then if you remove the oil filler cap there will most likely be traces of "mayonaise" in the filler cap filter..If it really bad then you'll have steam from the exhaust like my old GTi
Have you replaced the pressure cap on the swirl tank lately ?? Most people (myself) included have replaced the old one for a nice shiny new one and the first thing we have had is coolant loss from the cap. If you have make sure it is a 15lbs rating. Mine was and it still leaked. The old one went back on.
It will not be leaking from the swirl tank to expansion tank hose as this is only used when the pressure cap opens to allow for expansion.
I would check the following...
1 - All corners of the rad - legendary failure points
2 - Bottom hose from radiator to Water pump with metal section - takes a lot of abuse being next to wheel and therefor can leak from the radiator end generally.
3 - Water pump itself. When the water pump bearings give up the ghost it is designed to leak water to evidence this. Not a great deal but with the S you can usually smell this as it drops onto a hot exhaust due to positioning.
4 - All jubilee clips on the hoses especially round the swirl tank.
If it is the head gasket its not a bad job at all and I've plenty of photo's of what you'll find when you get in there if you need them.
Cheers
Mark
>> Edited by johno on Monday 22 July 16:55
Have you replaced the pressure cap on the swirl tank lately ?? Most people (myself) included have replaced the old one for a nice shiny new one and the first thing we have had is coolant loss from the cap. If you have make sure it is a 15lbs rating. Mine was and it still leaked. The old one went back on.
It will not be leaking from the swirl tank to expansion tank hose as this is only used when the pressure cap opens to allow for expansion.
I would check the following...
1 - All corners of the rad - legendary failure points
2 - Bottom hose from radiator to Water pump with metal section - takes a lot of abuse being next to wheel and therefor can leak from the radiator end generally.
3 - Water pump itself. When the water pump bearings give up the ghost it is designed to leak water to evidence this. Not a great deal but with the S you can usually smell this as it drops onto a hot exhaust due to positioning.
4 - All jubilee clips on the hoses especially round the swirl tank.
If it is the head gasket its not a bad job at all and I've plenty of photo's of what you'll find when you get in there if you need them.
Cheers
Mark
>> Edited by johno on Monday 22 July 16:55
Just read Johno`s comment re the Radiator cap. Be very careful if purchasing a new one from Halfords showing a 15 lb rating. I did. The cap was crap .Lost coolant, engine overheated until I replaced the new Halfords one with my painted up old one!
The position of the expansion tank on the bulkhead gave me an early warning that all was not well when I saw steam coming up through the bonnet vent. If It had just overflowed from the swirl tank I may not have noticed the steam as it would have dropped below to road level when driving instead of travelling upwards. Id keep the expansion tank purely for this reason to act as an alert incase Im not watching the guage (all the time)
The position of the expansion tank on the bulkhead gave me an early warning that all was not well when I saw steam coming up through the bonnet vent. If It had just overflowed from the swirl tank I may not have noticed the steam as it would have dropped below to road level when driving instead of travelling upwards. Id keep the expansion tank purely for this reason to act as an alert incase Im not watching the guage (all the time)
Interesting reading. I have replaced the radiator cap with the 15lb rating one from Halfords! The trouble is I've binned the old one, any other replacement/make ideas ?
Also Johno, the oil filter and dipstick look fine. However prior to my ownership (a year now, happy anniversary to me) the car was until then laid up for 3+ years and the advise record from the last service of the previous owner suggested near side cylinder head gasket change.
I have seen possible symptoms of steam from the exhaust, so it could be on the way out, but my main concern at the moment is the swirl tank pressure cap. The old one was definitely leaking as the rubber was perished but I'm not so sure of the new one from Halfords after Simba's comments!
I should be getting the expansion tank to fit back on tommorow evening if I'm back from the dark reaches of the BBC in London, so I'll try out the complete system. In the mean time if anyone has the original part no for the swirl tank pressure cap this would be greatly received.
Cheers
Phil
Also Johno, the oil filter and dipstick look fine. However prior to my ownership (a year now, happy anniversary to me) the car was until then laid up for 3+ years and the advise record from the last service of the previous owner suggested near side cylinder head gasket change.
I have seen possible symptoms of steam from the exhaust, so it could be on the way out, but my main concern at the moment is the swirl tank pressure cap. The old one was definitely leaking as the rubber was perished but I'm not so sure of the new one from Halfords after Simba's comments!
I should be getting the expansion tank to fit back on tommorow evening if I'm back from the dark reaches of the BBC in London, so I'll try out the complete system. In the mean time if anyone has the original part no for the swirl tank pressure cap this would be greatly received.
Cheers
Phil
Most S’s will have some steam from the exhaust, but this usually goes once the car is warmed up, I think Johno is saying excessive amounts of steam, you could check and see if the water system is being pressurised by remove the swirl tank cap when cold, fill up and start the car, if it throws lots of water out when its started you know there’s a problem.
Another thing to check is the top hose, mine split the other day as it had rubbed on the rocker cover.
Another thing to check is the top hose, mine split the other day as it had rubbed on the rocker cover.
Phil,
Paul is right in what he says. You will get steam from a S due to the size of the exhaust and the fact that condensation will build up. If you have a head gasket gone you will get loads of steam - think steam engine !!
I suspect your problem is down to the new pressure cap. Ideally what you need to do is get the car in your garage and run it until the fan cuts in. Then leave it running so that is good and hot and any frailty should evidence itself. Condensation in the exhaust will have dried out and then you will have to check the areas listed to see what isn't doing what it should be.
Be careful when doing this obviously as that water is hot !!
Sometimes these faults only occur at certain pressures within the system and it may only loose coolant once its turned off after its been running for a while. So spend as much time looking once the engine is switched off until it is cool aswell.
I had a leak for ages from the top hose. It never leaked when I ran it in the garage for a while. Only noticed it when I decided to sit and watch it once it was turned off and the system started to depressurise !! This was a tablespoon's worth of water but left behind a trail down the rad edge, making it look far worse. I had no real discernable coolant loss but this damned trail. That's what it was.
Good luck !
>> Edited by johno on Tuesday 23 July 13:04
Paul is right in what he says. You will get steam from a S due to the size of the exhaust and the fact that condensation will build up. If you have a head gasket gone you will get loads of steam - think steam engine !!
I suspect your problem is down to the new pressure cap. Ideally what you need to do is get the car in your garage and run it until the fan cuts in. Then leave it running so that is good and hot and any frailty should evidence itself. Condensation in the exhaust will have dried out and then you will have to check the areas listed to see what isn't doing what it should be.
Be careful when doing this obviously as that water is hot !!
Sometimes these faults only occur at certain pressures within the system and it may only loose coolant once its turned off after its been running for a while. So spend as much time looking once the engine is switched off until it is cool aswell.
I had a leak for ages from the top hose. It never leaked when I ran it in the garage for a while. Only noticed it when I decided to sit and watch it once it was turned off and the system started to depressurise !! This was a tablespoon's worth of water but left behind a trail down the rad edge, making it look far worse. I had no real discernable coolant loss but this damned trail. That's what it was.
Good luck !
>> Edited by johno on Tuesday 23 July 13:04
I also have a brand new looking 15lb pressure cap on my swirl tank.........But I also have an extra rubber seal, cut from an old inner tube which sits on top of the neck, I have a number of these rings which tend to perish, given to me by the last owner, they in turn were cut out by his TVR specialst garage.
If this is not clear lat me know and I will measure them and post the results.
I have no leaks or presure problems whatsoever.
Guy
If this is not clear lat me know and I will measure them and post the results.
I have no leaks or presure problems whatsoever.
Guy
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