Do you guys use an overflow resevoir?

[ringkingpin]

Do you guys use an overflow bottle? I recently got my car on the road and I'm not using a res at the moment. I did notice some boil over but not much. what is best practice? What are people using as a bottle / resevoir? Thanks!

Geoff

[c.d.iesel]

car was not designed with one

normal operatimg conditions the cooling system

is more than up to the job

it's when the radiator core passages are clogged,

thermostat is out of calibration, incorrect rad cap,

water pump clearance to housing is erroded,

cooling passages thru the block and head

and head gasket are choked, when a head

gasket is failing that you see 'boil over'

[baller908790]

I believe you can get them from summit.

[LimeySteve]

I run one, it keeps the coolant full in the radiator, preventing coolant loss=steam pockets with the loss of coolant, my rad is always full & the overflow bottle maintains that level & does not overflow . mine is the 2 bob plastic one from pepboys .

[Kpeters]

No overflow bottle here never needed one but I've seen a guy using the windshield washer one as an overflow haha.

[Conserv]

car was not designed with one

normal operatimg conditions the cooling system

is more than up to the job

it's when the radiator core passages are clogged,

thermostat is out of calibration, incorrect rad cap,

water pump clearance to housing is erroded,

cooling passages thru the block and head

and head gasket are choked, when a head

gasket is failing that you see 'boil over'

I'm with c.d. on this issue: 40 years and 200,000 miles with 02's and never needed an overflow reservoir.

Steve

[TobyB]

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,382687/

[rogerspeed]

I do have a personal financial interest in this, but even so, the answer is emphatically yes. BMW cheaped out when came to adding cooling recovery, intead they piped the overflow onto the front cross member, that why so many 02's are rusted along the lower nose, if you drive hard anywhere with real heat and real mountains, a coolant recovery system is good insurance, your car was designed to release coolant if it got too hot, and the designers weren't concerned with the consequences to the unitbody. It is like a third brake light. here's a resorvoir I'm hawking:

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,382784/highlight,/

car was not designed with one

normal operatimg conditions the cooling system

is more than up to the job

it's when the radiator core passages are clogged,

thermostat is out of calibration, incorrect rad cap,

water pump clearance to housing is erroded,

cooling passages thru the block and head

and head gasket are choked, when a head

gasket is failing that you see 'boil over'

[Mark42]

I know this is an old thread but The links posted are dead now and I need a good solution. I can't stand the thought of leaking coolant on the drive because its poisonous to animals.

Anyone have a current source or good solutions?

[KFunk]

I have one of these behind my driver's side headlight (just got my second after a deer hit the first).  They should have it in stock at every autozone, even if you make the guy search the back room twice, he'll find it somewhere:

http://www.autozone.com/heating-and-cooling/coolant-return-kit/interdynamics-1-5-qt-coolant-return-kit-for-compact-and-smaller-vehicles/360489_0_0/

It's cheap looking, but its set up for the job and works.

 

And yes, I run one for a lot of reasons.  I'm sure the car can handle it, but my car isn't exactly stock, and all cooling system parts won't work forever.  I abuse it heavily, and don't want to spew extra coolant down the highway while going through the mountains or at high speed on a track, just because I mis-measured how much of an airspace should be at the top of the radiator.  Just fill it up all the way, and you'll have less chance of air bubbles, too.  

[Zorac]

bought one of these:

 

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Universal-Coolant-Bottle-Overflow-Cars-For-TOYOTA-NISSAN-/171717283743?hash=item27fb25cf9f&vxp=mtr

 

havent had time to mount it yet, but it fits nicely where the charcoal filter use to be for the gas tank vent up by the exhaust (and very close to the rad).  unfortunately it will need new holes, the old holes don't work, and youll need a bit of extra hose as the rad vents to the driver side and there isnt much room on that side to mount an overflow unless you have relocated your battery.

[jmr_1602]

Here's, mine. 

 

[PaulTWinterton]

FWIW the original "tubing" was routed from the overflow nozzle and  clamped down the side of the rad with enough length to drain BELOW the nose and subframe.  Over the years that tubing gets shorter from abuse and disregard for the  largely unseen lower engine compartment.

 

That tubing, if you can source it, is pennies a foot.  It's thin wall rubber, or facsimile, 1/4" ID, 3/32" wall approx.

Edited August 29, 2015 by PaulTWinterton

[Mark42]

I have one of these behind my driver's side headlight (just got my second after a deer hit the first). They should have it in stock at every autozone, even if you make the guy search the back room twice, he'll find it somewhere:

http://www.autozone.com/heating-and-cooling/coolant-return-kit/interdynamics-1-5-qt-coolant-return-kit-for-compact-and-smaller-vehicles/360489_0_0/

It's cheap looking, but its set up for the job and works.

And yes, I run one for a lot of reasons. I'm sure the car can handle it, but my car isn't exactly stock, and all cooling system parts won't work forever. I abuse it heavily, and don't want to spew extra coolant down the highway while going through the mountains or at high speed on a track, just because I mis-measured how much of an airspace should be at the top of the radiator. Just fill it up all the way, and you'll have less chance of air bubbles, too.

I picked up one after work today. Looks like a tight fit but I'll work on it tomorrow. Thanks.

[dlhoovler]

KFunk--I assume you've relocated your battery? Or did you go below the battery tray?

 

-Dave