My motors are 1986 Crusader 350's. They didn't come with expansion tanks. I just did elbows/risers,all new hoses and clamps and water pumps. Obviously have been all over them looking for leaks. I am seeing droplets of coolant in the bilge and tracked it down to coolant dripping out of the weep hole on top of heat exchanger after shutdown. I'd like to add expansion tanks. Anyone ever done this? I am talking driplets but it's annoying me.
Retrofitting an expansion tank
- Thread starter zane
- Start date
Shake n Bake
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- Joined
- Mar 8, 2005
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- 16525
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I'm not sure how expansion tanks will help your leak. Why not just fix the leak?
"Anyone ever done this? I am talking driplets but it's annoying me."
Yes - absolutely. Keeping air out of that part of the system and having an easy way to judge the exact cold level as well as possible contaminants is well worth the small cost of adding overflow tanks. If your total system volume is in the area of 15 qts or so just add the plastic ones for cars you can get at any auto parts store. If your system volume is over say 20 qts total (engine, heaters , etc) than make sure you get the plastic truck overflow tanks that hold more than a quart.
Hope this helps
Yes - absolutely. Keeping air out of that part of the system and having an easy way to judge the exact cold level as well as possible contaminants is well worth the small cost of adding overflow tanks. If your total system volume is in the area of 15 qts or so just add the plastic ones for cars you can get at any auto parts store. If your system volume is over say 20 qts total (engine, heaters , etc) than make sure you get the plastic truck overflow tanks that hold more than a quart.
Hope this helps
"It's the barb."
Yes - hose goes to barb from overflow tank mounted as high as possible so that 2 stage pressure cap will refill cooling system when engine cools. With the tank installed you will get no more excess coolant in the bilge and an exact way to measure a cold engine to see if you are losing or 'making' any coolant. A nice byproduct of the tank is you can easily inspect the plastic tanks bottom for potential contaminants.
Hope this helps
Yes - hose goes to barb from overflow tank mounted as high as possible so that 2 stage pressure cap will refill cooling system when engine cools. With the tank installed you will get no more excess coolant in the bilge and an exact way to measure a cold engine to see if you are losing or 'making' any coolant. A nice byproduct of the tank is you can easily inspect the plastic tanks bottom for potential contaminants.
Hope this helps
Smitty: that HINO diesel (one of two) look brand new. I assume these are on your Bayliner 4788. This must be the vessel you have been trying to sell.
Zane: I can't see where adding a coolant recovery bottle/ system would do no harm to your engines.
Bill
Zane: I can't see where adding a coolant recovery bottle/ system would do no harm to your engines.
Bill
I added overflow reservoirs to my old '88 Crusader 350ci's since they didn't come with them . Couldn't be much easier. Any auto parts store should have them with the bracket and hose. Just try to find one with a stainless or plastic bracket/holder if possible- though that is not critical since they are so cheap if it rusts just replace. Try to mount as high as possible.
If what you describe is the only leak this should fix you right up as long as the overflow hose goes to the bottom of the reservoir tank. No more coolant in the bilge and frequent refilling.
Make very sure you have the correct pressure-rated cap for your cooling system. ( maybe 7 PSI for that era?)
If what you describe is the only leak this should fix you right up as long as the overflow hose goes to the bottom of the reservoir tank. No more coolant in the bilge and frequent refilling.
Make very sure you have the correct pressure-rated cap for your cooling system. ( maybe 7 PSI for that era?)