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coolant expansion/header tank location
luke2152 - 12/8/13 at 09:01 AM

Just made a coolant tank. Truth be told it was just me wanting to get a bit of practice working with aluminium on a small job before I tackle a fuel tank.

Anyway does it need to be located at a high point in the system or can I put it right down by the floor with a remote radiator cap.

Bluemoon - 12/8/13 at 09:47 AM

In principle it is o.k low down, in practice I would make sure the water level is above the highest waterway, makes filling simple, and allows easy air bleeds back to the header tank. The mistake I have made is not having sufficient volume in the header tank for the volume of water in the system to account for water expansion, best idea is to make sure the tank is the same volume as the donner...

Dan

[Edited on 12/8/13 by Bluemoon]

luke2152 - 12/8/13 at 07:23 PM

Cool well I've got a nice spot for it down low so I might give it enough hose that I can raise it above the engine for filling and then bring it back down again. Volume won't be a problem as its a good 4L I reckon.

big_wasa - 12/8/13 at 07:34 PM

I would really think about getting it high up. You really don't want the hassle of trying to bleed it.

Wheels244 - 12/8/13 at 07:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
I would really think about getting it high up. You really don't want the hassle of trying to bleed it.


+1

luke2152 - 12/8/13 at 07:59 PM

That bad is it....ok well I'll think about putting it elsewhere!

40inches - 12/8/13 at 08:02 PM

I put mine under the nose cone, the cap is about 10mm clear and is just high enough.
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adithorp - 12/8/13 at 08:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by luke2152
That bad is it....ok well I'll think about putting it elsewhere!


It is possible to have the expansion tank lower down but it's tricky. It has to be well designed and carefully bled, usually requiring pressure to push the water up to the bleed points.Should it get air in later, it won't self bleed either. Punto's are like that and that's the cause of their h/gasket problems.

It's much better idea to mount it as high as possible and set it up to self bleed an air to the bottle.

britishtrident - 12/8/13 at 10:03 PM

With a pressurised tank you really want the normal level of the tank only slightly above the highest level in the system.
Pressurised tanks also work best with an inlet and outlet, inlet connected to highest point in the system, and the outlet connected to the bottom hose.

Non-pressurised tanks they are usually mounted just below the normal level of the system.