usamuscle892

i have a new aluminum radiator, thermostat housing, good hoses, so on so on. do i really need a overflow tank if the car is running cool? Can you just remove the tank and plug it?

camarojustin

You can plug it if you wanna blow your new radiator!
The overflow tank is there to catch the coolant that your radiator cap lets out when you have too much pressure in your cooling system. By plugging that hole off you will not allow the exess pressure out... and well... that's not a good idea.

If you want get yourself a new catch can, I bought a morosso aluminum one and it looks and works great

usamuscle892

well, i guess i gotta buy on of those summit tanks for it then. i have looked at the standard plastic tanks and wanted to know how some of yall have mounted them. pics please.

naf

iTrader: (7)

If your radiator is set up for a reservoir and it has the proper cap then it will still vent through the opening for the fill tube. Explosion is unlikely. Unfortunately, though, after it vents and cools down it will draw in outside air into the radiator instead of coolant from the reservoir. This extra air coming into the system is the big problem because it promotes corrosion. You'll also lose coolant and will have to refill the radiator, allowing more outside air into the system.

Many radiators are not set up for an overflow tank. You'll have to check yours and maybe follow the manufacturer's recommendation? Wow.

Randy82WS7

before the days of coolant reservoir tanks the water level in the radiator was about an inch and a half below the top

the reaosn why is due to water expansion


water expands when it is heated up

when it cools off then it contracts and leaves the water level to do nothing but drop and create the air space

in which is permanent without a tank for it to suck fluid out of when it cools off, instead of creating an air space


its real simple


in most of muy vehicles i choose not to have or install a tank, alot of the vehicles i have had were early 70s and older ones when they didnt put in coolant tanks from factory

especially the trucks,

they stayed cool jut fine no problem ever

i feel that a tank is not required and the engine will stay cool just the same with or without one

but everyone will have opinions


good luck

BadGirlIROC

I struggled forever trying to figure out what to use as an overflow tank because I just did not want to use that ugly stock one. I finally came across the Moroso catch can which I got from Summit. There had to be a little drilling to get it placed right but I haven't had any problems with overheating since getting it installed, and it looks cool or isn't even noticed!

This is the newest pic from 2 weekends ago but the one after this one shows the tank with better light.

firebirdjosh

iTrader: (1)

I wish my firebird had a spot like that.

naf

iTrader: (7)

I like the small catchcan. The 4th Gen reservoir mounted in front of the radiator is a cool option also.

usamuscle892

well, if i had an older vehicle i guess i would just go without, but after the money ive spent on the cooling system, ill invest in a 13 buck tank from summit and be safe than sorry.