Can you CLEAN a coolant reservoir? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

FireDemonSiC · 01-28-2009, 09:58 PM

I was considering buying a fresh coolant reservoir for my car, but I read on several posts that they don't stay "new" for long.

Is there a way to clean the old ones?

I was thinking maybe fill it with bleach and let it soak, but knowing bleach I have a feeling this would not have a positive impact on the plastic...

Any advice other than to spend $20 on a new reservoir?

green92 · 01-28-2009, 10:29 PM

I bought a stainless tank at a swap meet for about 40 bucks heres a pic. just a option you can think about.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/mycar006.jpg

online170 · 01-28-2009, 10:44 PM

DO a search for this. There was a thread a year or two ago with all the crazy ideas you can think of.

Chemicals wont work, ive tried just about all of them that wont eat the plastic. And it will still be discolored.

We all agreed there wasnt a better option than to replace it if you want a new clean look.

FireDemonSiC · 01-28-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by green92

I bought a stainless tank at a swap meet for about 40 bucks heres a pic. just a option you can think about.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/mycar006.jpg

Sorry for the dumb question but where exactly is it? Is it the tube thing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by online170

DO a search for this. There was a thread a year or two ago with all the crazy ideas you can think of.

Chemicals wont work, ive tried just about all of them that wont eat the plastic. And it will still be discolored.

We all agreed there wasnt a better option than to replace it if you want a new clean look.

Yes, but for how long do they stay clean? I thought I remember reading somewhere only a couple months???!!!

green92 · 01-28-2009, 11:08 PM

LOL yeah man its the tube thing. Im not laughing at ya just your comment, i put it in place of the original tank i was gonna buy one for the washer fluid but didnt kinda wished i had.

Or you could do the washer/coolant resivoir off of a new car that goes under the battery tray. Im actually thinkn of going that route

FireDemonSiC · 01-29-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by green92

Or you could do the washer/coolant resivoir off of a new car that goes under the battery tray. Im actually thinkn of going that route

I was reading another thread where someone men tioned a 4th gen battery tray reservoir. Do you have any pics of this? Sounds interesting.

green92 · 01-29-2009, 12:52 AM

Ok you just drove me crazy. Nah seriously I saw a thread the other day where a guy was working on his engine bay and installed one of these, now i cant find it. I've been looking for about an hour with no luck . Ive seen other cars on here with it done so im sure somone can help. If i find the thread or somone that has this on their car Ill let you know.

BlueIroc-Z · 01-29-2009, 01:11 AM

Here's a pic for you, doesn't really show it in a finished engine bay, but gives the basic idea...

green92 · 01-29-2009, 06:25 AM

Hey Fire found this in another thread http://www.cantonracingproducts.com/...ion&key=80-223

Its in the Detailing thread under Prject 1 Cleaning up engine bay theres a car with that tank.

JamesC · 01-29-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireDemonSiC

how long do they stay clean? I thought I remember reading somewhere only a couple months???!!!

I purchased new in the summer. Both tanks look as fresh as the day I installed them. Personally, I'd disregard the "couple of months" business. They are, however, plastic so eventually....

JamesC

jersyboyy · 01-29-2009, 11:08 AM

Sanded and painted my with plastic paint then clear coated it LOOKS GOOD

Bruce91RS · 02-01-2009, 07:59 PM

i agree.this will be the way i do it when i'm ready.

CaliChevyLover · 02-01-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jersyboyy

Sanded and painted my with plastic paint then clear coated it LOOKS GOOD

if i did that id tape off a maybe quarter inch wide strip up the length of the bottle so u still have a easy window to check the level

jersyboyy · 02-02-2009, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliChevyLover

if i did that id tape off a maybe quarter inch wide strip up the length of the bottle so u still have a easy window to check the level

That is a good idea I wish I thought about that before.
Well I have an extra tank, its pretty clean but what the hay ill paint it anyway.

FueledSoul · 02-02-2009, 12:17 AM

i CLEANED a coolant reservoir. . .

There isn't one in the bay at all

FueledSoul · 02-02-2009, 12:32 AM

before i decided to ditch mine, i painted it along with the washer bottle that later got dumped too. i was going to run a 4thgen coolet bottle but i didn't want to cut out a hole to drop it into. i still need to get one but im going to run a 4thgen washer up front along with my after market coolant reservoir

ClickClickVroom · 02-02-2009, 06:07 PM

That does look good jersyboy, what type of paint? just good old spray paint?

80schild · 02-02-2009, 07:08 PM

I wonder if that polishing stuff that removes yellowing from headlights would work to clean these tanks?

ClickClickVroom · 02-02-2009, 07:13 PM

lol I figure after I paint it it doesn't matter how it looks. I scrubbed mine good but it's still discoloured.

FueledSoul · 02-02-2009, 08:33 PM

This is by far the best stuff i have used for plastics if you let it cure for over a week or two it becomes near scratch and fluid resistant

heres what mine looked liked

jersyboyy · 02-02-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FueledSoul

This is by far the best stuff i have used for plastics if you let it cure for over a week or two it becomes near scratch and fluid resistant

heres what mine looked liked

Exactly what I used!!

ClickClickVroom · 02-02-2009, 09:06 PM

hm okay. I have a red can of plastic use so I'll give that a whirl and if that isn't to my standards sand it down and pick some of that up. I don't like letting it cure that long though :/ It'll have at least a day or two though.

jersyboyy · 02-02-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClickClickVroom

hm okay. I have a red can of plastic use so I'll give that a whirl and if that isn't to my standards sand it down and pick some of that up. I don't like letting it cure that long though :/ It'll have at least a day or two though.

spend the 5 bucks dude the regular paint SUCKS doesnt cure good and it peels(i did it once with black)

On another note I let the plastic paint cure for like a day and through it on the car. 6 months later when the overflow tank over flowed! it cleaned right up.(the regular paint bubbled and came off-go with the plastic paint)

1989GTATransAm · 02-02-2009, 09:11 PM

Mine has stayed clean for 20 years.

I keep the radiator at 50-50 and use distilled water. From time to time I clean the outside of the reservoir with simple green.

ClickClickVroom · 02-02-2009, 10:15 PM

ha k I'll pick some up I guess. I don't plan on letting mine overheat again.

And yeah I flushed my radiator a few months ago, cleaned the tank then, still kinda grungy now. Just hard to clean the inside and whatnot.