5/26/2023 0 Comments Radiator overflow tank![]() Like all engine parts, a bad expansion or radiator overflow tank will tell you when it needs replacing. These perform better in temperature extremes, being more durable, and ensure that there’s no possibility of damage or rupture, so no lost coolant. Aluminium tanks also look much better and fit the whole aesthetic of a reworked engine. Don’t expect to find one for cheap, though. In this respect, car builders can go with larger aluminium overflow or expansion tanks. One downside of plastic in factory tanks though is that it won’t perform in engines that have been modified for more power, and hence higher heat levels. ![]() To make things easier when checking on coolant levels, the tank is also translucent, so the coolant is easy to see. Plastic is the material of choice as it can adequately handle the rise and fall in engine and coolant temperatures. It also means that the tank will often be placed higher in relation to the radiator. This a more complex system, but also more effective. Hot coolant expands from the tank and fills the top half of the radiator through a separate by-pass or heater hose. The system here is pressurised, meaning coolant is constantly being cycled between the radiator and tank. As coolant gets hot and expands, a valve in the radiator cap opens and allows coolant to flow through hoses into the overflow tank, where it is stored until temperatures in the cooling system drop.Įxpansion tanks have their own cap, so function a little differently. Overflow (or recovery) tanks don’t have their own cap, instead, this part is integral to the radiator. There are two basic types here, overflow and expansion tanks. The amount of coolant in the tank can change as engine temperatures vary and this is to ensure that the engine is working at optimal working temperatures. And it ensures that the pressure within the entire cooling system remains constant. As such, the tank ensures that there is no coolant loss or leaks and serves as a simple expansion tank. What are Radiator Overflow Tanks? Source: Ĭoolant expands when it gets hot, and a radiator overflow tank allows the sealed system some wiggle room in storing coolant that is trying to make a run for it. While overflow tanks are simple in design and working principle, they are a key part without which a modern engine just won’t be able to work. Other parts, like radiator caps, prevent coolant loss by regulating coolant system pressure, while coolant temperature sensors inform the car’s ECU about how hot the engine is so that this can control the amount and timing of the fuelling. Coolant collects excessive heat and redirects it to the radiator where it is subjected to further cooling from oncoming air and high-speed fans. Helping out are water pumps, that provide the needed pressure to push coolant through a system of connected hoses and pipes, a thermostat that opens and closes to let coolant flow depending on engine temperature, and a radiator overflow tank to collect expanding coolant as pressures in the sealed system increase. Cooling System Parts Source: Ĭars maintain heat by circulating coolant through vital engine components. Any part that is defective can lead to overheating, or complete engine failure, and a costly repair bill that you want to avoid. ![]() And the whole system works as a calibrated unit. Combined, these two prevent parts from literally melting. Maintaining that rise in heat is done by the vehicle’s cooling system and to a certain extent the engine oil. In short, modern engines may be exemplary feats of advanced engineering, but they come under a lot of stress. These parts need to be made of materials that not only hold their own against high temperatures but also high pressures. The higher that rated power the higher the generated heat. A large portion of this goes through the engine block, and another exits the car in the form of exhaust gas. The current trend of engine downsizing while pumping out more power than before has a few knock-on effects.
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