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| Any recommended universal coolant reservoir tanks? (Page 2/4) |
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Blacktree
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MAR 15, 02:21 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Patrick:
A readily available new universal coolant reservoir tank is the Dorman 603-001.
I can currently buy one of these for $18(US), and that includes shipping. Its dimensions are 6"x4"x5" and its capacity is half a gallon. |
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I want to say the stock tank was around 3.5 quarts. But it's been awhile. My memory might be off.
The aluminum tank I used was about 1.5 quart. I filled so it was almost full when the engine was hot. And it was almost empty when the engine was cold. So 2 quarts should be enough. But you'll likely end up using almost all the tank's capacity, like I did.
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Patrick
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MAR 15, 03:14 AM
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I figured I'd better get back to this thread. Thanks for your insights/posts everyone.
When I removed the reservoir tank from my Formula, I filled it with water and propped it up in a large bucket to see where it was leaking from. Wouldn't you know it, not a drop leaked out. 
When it was in the car, it would eventually empty out completely within a week or so (with coolant on the ground under the front of the car). I didn't know if being bolted in place was contributing to a crack being opened up (although I did not have the two mounting nuts very tight), or maybe it was hot water from the rad that was contributing to a crack being wide enough to leak. So I filled the tank with boiling water... and still not a drop was leaked!
I'm beginning to suspect that this reservoir tank is not leaking at all.  I'm now thinking that the leak is somewhere else in the cooling system in the front of the car, and the coolant is being sucked from the reservoir by the resulting vacuum in the cooling system. Is that possible... with a car that's just sitting, not running for a week or so?
I usually have my Formula parked on the street, so it was easy to see the wet spots under the car on the asphalt. However, before I removed the reservoir, I parked the car in my yard on the dirt/grass/gravel driveway, so it's not all that easy now to see if it's been leaking coolant. It's also been raining, which contributes to me not wanting to get under the car.  But sunshine is forecast this week, so I'm going to have to get under there and see what the heck is going on.
Oh, by the way... I measured the capacity of the reservoir tonight. It's about 4.5 quarts!
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theogre
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MAR 15, 11:23 AM
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"Leaking Tank" is often not the Tank but Radiator sucking it dry during heat cycling because have small coolant leak somewhere else.
Coolant can leak out anywhere when hot and iffy hose joints etc often doesn't let air back in except thru the OF tank path sucking coolant then air when tank is dry after shut down.
Do not "crush" the tank line and Rad fitting by using any strong clamps.
Old tank hose gets hard and fail to seal at either end and people then use worm clamps etc that crush the rad tube over time if not immediate.
Is why GM only use "weak" plastic clamp there.
If Rad has ever been replace, look careful at OV Tank outlet. Tube section Often have mold flash etc causing hose seal fail.
I have a very tiny leak doing that for months and can't find it even after replacing many hoses or cleaning joints. I just check the tank every month.
Is 4.5q the Total Volume? did you check empty to add and empty to full marks?[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 03-15-2023).]
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Raydar
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MAR 15, 03:29 PM
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I bought one of the "universal" tanks from Advance Auto. But I deleted my front tank and moved the overflow to the back. Radiator has a 20# cap, so it should never "vent".
I have a fill adapter on the rear with a 15# cap, with a hose to the overflow bottle.
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Patrick
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MAR 21, 11:48 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Patrick:
I'm now thinking that the leak is somewhere else in the cooling system in the front of the car, and the coolant is being sucked from the reservoir by the resulting vacuum in the cooling system.
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| quote | Originally posted by theogre:
"Leaking Tank" is often not the Tank but Radiator sucking it dry during heat cycling because have small coolant leak somewhere else.
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A few days ago I swapped in the coolant reservoir tank from my '84 (to try and eliminate one variable), topped up the coolant, and then let the engine run for 20 minutes. I couldn't see any evidence of a leak anywhere. I left the car alone for a few days, as it was raining anyway. Today was nice (Spring has sprung!), so I had a look at the car again this afternoon. I noticed this one wet spot on the front of the radiator.
I thought I had possibly found the leak... so I started the engine and let it run for ten minutes. Not only did it not leak any further from this area, but the wet spot completely disappeared as the radiator got warm. After I turned off the engine, I checked that area of the radiator two hours later (the radiator was cool), and there was absolutely no evidence of any moisture. I'm now beginning to think the wet area in the photo was the result of water working its way there during the rain we had the last few days.  I'll check it again tomorrow![This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 03-21-2023).]
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Patrick
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MAR 22, 12:39 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by theogre:
Is 4.5q the Total Volume? did you check empty to add and empty to full marks?
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4.5 qts is the Total Volume... right up to the cap.
Measurements are approximate, but close.
Empty to ADD line ------ 2.0 qts.
ADD line to FULL line --- 1.5 qts.
FULL line to top of tank - 1.0 qt.
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Patrick
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MAR 22, 09:47 PM
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After sitting for 24 hours, I saw no sign of any coolant leak. Doesn't mean that there still isn't one, just that I can't see it. I've now parked my Formula back on the street, so if it is leaking coolant, I should be able to see some evidence on the blacktop.
I had the thermostat removed for a few days during the refilling/testing stage... and when I went to reinstall it, this is what I saw. Anyone care to guess what's going on here? I do know what happened... I'm just testing your knowledge. 
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theogre
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MAR 22, 10:55 PM
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backward order...
"Dyno" and most Syn Oil/Grease on o-ring make it swell. Same problem w/ rubber brake parts. Often gets oil/grease on the rubber to lube to install X part then "Dry out" when out/off and rubber swell then. Rad and T-stat caps get same problem. Use Silicone oil or grease or Permatex brake grease.
oil/grease w/ same on T-stat cap "Rivet" on top of cap too. Stops "rust" that stops swiveling the seal and make the cap very hard to remove later.
I once had a T-stat cap looked ok first when pulled then coolant start to dry then rubber warped. I installed it but was in a rush and wiped the tube edge w/ engine oil to stop tube rusting... Good thing I keep extra caps in inventory.
Thanks for data. Can't find my spare to get that info.
Careful w/ Rad and other coolant leaks... Small leaks can "Self seal" intermittently until corrosion eats more metal, hose(s) finally fail, etc and suddenly have way bigger leak often on highway in heavy traffic and other bad times.
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Patrick
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MAR 22, 11:30 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by theogre:
"Dyno" and most Syn Oil/Grease on o-ring make it swell.
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Bingo!
I've been putting grease on the Fiero's thermostat O-ring for decades (for easier installation into the housing), and never had a problem. Even when I pulled this thermostat out last week, the O-ring appeared to be fine. It wasn't until I left the thermostat out of the engine for several days that the O-ring had an opportunity to swell up. Lesson learned!
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Patrick
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MAR 27, 11:17 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Patrick:
I've now parked my Formula back on the street, so if it is leaking coolant, I should be able to see some evidence on the blacktop.
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Well, my strategy worked. After parking my Formula on the street three days ago, and not moving it, there were coolant drips under the middle of the car when I had a look today. Using a flashlight, I can now clearly see a drop of coolant on the screw head for a clamp on one of the heater core coolant lines.
This is an image found online of the underside of an '86 (should be similar enough to my '88), and I've indicated where I can see the drop of coolant. It remains to be seen if the leak is actually right there, or whether the coolant is running there from a leak located elsewhere.
 [This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-05-2023).]
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