Topic: Overflow Container

[melbill]

I am going to be installing a new radiator and a taurus electric fan into my 95 YJ shortly.  In the future I am going to be swapping to tube fenders in the front, so I will probably need to relocate my coolant overflow bottle.  I have seen many for sale, but I was wondering if I could build one.  I was thinking about using PVC pipe with a glue on cap on one end and a screw on one on the other.  I would drill a small hole for the tube from the radiator.
Should this work?  Will PVC or a similar material take the heat?  Am I wasting my time even thinking about this?  My project keeps growing and I need to wrap it up soon or I will be working on a turbo or jet engine swap.

Thanks
Bill

[dwtaylorpdx]

An aluminum camping fuel can (Looks like a water bottle ) works pretty good...

Dave

[Jeffy]

PVC will get brittle and crack with all of the heating and cooling cycles after a while.  You can buy cheap aluminum cans on ebay.

[sharpxmen]

overflow tank on the right side, it is stainless - off ebay for $20 bucks and comes with billet cap and stainless screws/nuts/washers/brackets
power steering on the left was $15 or so

[melbill]

Thanks for ideas better than what I was thinking, as always. I really like those stainless ones.  I will be looking for the stainless or aluminum tanks. What capacity do I need for both the coolant and power steering fluid?  Would there be a benefit to larger than stock tanks?

Thanks again,

Bill  

[sharpxmen]

Thanks for ideas better than what I was thinking, as always. I really like those stainless ones.  I will be looking for the stainless or aluminum tanks. What capacity do I need for both the coolant and power steering fluid?  Would there be a benefit to larger than stock tanks?

Thanks again,

Bill  

this is all from memory but i did have a list of items somewhere and dimensions - i'll look for it and i'll post it later if i can find it

the stainless expansion tank i got is 2'' in diameter, from what i remember the 2.5'' one was coming out at the same volume as the stock tank, but in my case i needed a bit more room to route the intercooler piping so that was why i went with the 2'' one, you could probably go with the 2.5''

for the p/s tank the one i bought is larger than stock, the stock one is fairly small so it's pretty easy to replace with anything aftermarket - this one did not have any brackets so i had to weld one on it to make it work (it had a large clamp, that works too but not as pretty)

 - i looked for my excel spreadsheet with the tank dimensions, is not on my laptop so i probably have it at work, if i find it i'll post the sizes later

[melbill]

I have been looking at the ss overflow containers on e-bay.  They all have 2 tubes off the bottom.  I know one will go to the base of the radiator cap, like stock.  What do I do with the other one?   Do I cap it; or can I connect it to the radiator also? I have read about return lines off some coolant containers, but I have never seen either a picture or an actual one.

Thanks for any information

Bill     

[sharpxmen]

one tube is on the bottom of the tank - this one goes to the radiator cap like you said

the second tube continues on the inside and is almost to the top - that one is the overflow tube, if the coolant expands too much will overflow thru that one - do not cap it

i think i was off with the dimensions in my previous post (can't find that doc with my notes), probably the one i got is 2.5'' - i'll have a look later and let you know

[melbill]

Thanks for the explanation. I appreciate and all the help you have been.

Thanks again
Bill

[sharpxmen]

I found my spreadsheet with dimensions

the one i have is 2'' diameter, 19'' long and it is 0.98L capacity (1 quart) - at the time was $35 or so shipped to my location with buy it now, i got it cheaper on a bidding auction - it is identical to this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2x19-Stainless-Radiator-Overflow-Tank-Street-Rat-Rod-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem483b54f707QQitemZ310233069319QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

the one that i think was same (or close) capacity as the stock one was 3'' diameter and 16'' long with a 1.85L volume (2 quarts) - same as this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-X-16-STAINLESS-STEEL-SS-RADIATOR-OVERFLOW-TANK-6078-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem563d2aabf2QQitemZ370393394162QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

now keep in mind that the capacity of the tank is more than the fluid you are putting in due to expansion and position of the overflow tube, so the values above are for total capacity and not the actual coolant you will have in the tank.

[melbill]

I hadn't thought about expansion.  Are there any problems with using a smaller tank  and thereby less fluid than stock?  Would that change if my engine grows (I'm thinking .030- .060 over) in the future?  I have no space issues now, but as always, I want to keep my options open for the future.  I have an all aluminum radiator and a taurus fan, just waiting on the arrival of my DC controller for the install.  If any of that matters.

Thanks again,
Bill   

[sharpxmen]

I hadn't thought about expansion.  Are there any problems with using a smaller tank  and thereby less fluid than stock?  Would that change if my engine grows (I'm thinking .030- .060 over) in the future?  I have no space issues now, but as always, I want to keep my options open for the future.  I have an all aluminum radiator and a taurus fan, just waiting on the arrival of my DC controller for the install.  If any of that matters.

Thanks again,
Bill  

i had to use the 2'' one b/c of space constraints (i could not route the aluminum i/c piping aroud the 3'' tank the way i installed it) - in your case i would just get the 3''x16'' one, should have plenty of room for the coolant to expand/contract.

The engine displacement has nothing to do with the expansion tank (well, maybe to some extent but not in this case) - the coolant capacity drives the top/bottom levels of the coolant in the expansion tank, so when you bore out your cylinders the total coolant capacity will remain the same (so will the coolant in the overflow tank)

EDIT: all that matters with the overflow tank is that when the engine is hot (and that is as hot as it will ever get) the coolant has a way to escape (thru the overflow tube). When it cools the coolant in the cooling circuit (radiator, block, cyl head, etc) will contract and reduce it's volume so the difference will be sucked in from the overflow tank - at this point all it needs is to not run out and suck in air, even 1'' on the bottom of the tank should be fine as long as the tube going to the radiator is covered with liquid. So as long as there's enough volume between max/min levels to compensate for the expansion of the fluid it should be fine.

[melbill]

Thanks again.  Who knows, one day I may even get this thing running.

Bill