home made overflow tank?????

[g2ic02]

i was gonna use a water bottle as a coolant overflow....and i was wondering if there were any adverse affects by placing the bottle lower than the top of the radiator???just let me know thanks

[AlligatorBling]

just put the drain tube down to the ground and let it spill

[g2ic02]

that doesn't really help out much....i need an overflow for the track

[HyperTek]

wouldnt be too hard... as far as dumping to the ground, your going to eventually run out or end up with a lower amount of coolent since there will be no resevoir..

[krustindumm]

it will be fine to place it below the level of the radiator. Just make sure the tube is below the level of the coolant in the reservoir.

[Blues13]

Any of those generic oil catch cans will work too if you're worried at all about appearances.

[g2ic02]

well if the placement of the bottle isn't an issue then i will just use it....as far as using an oil catch can, wouldn't that be more expensive than just buying an oem reservoir??

[HyperTek]

ummm.. in that case, i shoudl be able to relocate it to under the fender (where the windshield sprayer resevor was since i removed it).. cool..

[KwKouki]

Be careful bro. The engine heat could warp the water bottle. Make sure it is thick enough.

[goodjuan]

you can use a nalgene bottle. They're made to withstand high temps. 7-8 dollars for em... go to their site and check which product line can hold the right temps, http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/technical/materials/index.html#hdpe

i used the hdpe 32 oz bottle...make your life easy and get a flat sided bottle instead of a cylindrical one like i did. with no flat sides except the bottom, it took a lot more work/creativity to mount it in the bay.

every s13 should replace the coolant overflow!! the stock peice is rediculous!

[ItzGenX]

Just remember that the reservoir is actually fully functional. Having it dump to the ground will hurt the car if you are not careful. When coolant heats, it expands, and the excess coolant goes into the reservoir. When it cools back off, it will contract and suck some of that coolant back into the radiator. It doesn't matter where you put a reservoir, just be sure to have the hose submerged in coolant/water, and it should be fine.

[projectRDM]

As mentioned, make sure the hose drains in from the bottom of the bottle or you run the hose all the way to the bottom, otherwise you'll suck in air when the radiator cap opens creating an air pocket in the system.

[drew935]

I have used a gatorade bottle for the coolant reservoir and it worked. Although it was for the supra in the shop :keke:

[S13 Charlie]

you can use a nalgene bottle. They're made to withstand high temps. 7-8 dollars for em... go to their site and check which product line can hold the right temps, http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/technical/materials/index.html#hdpe

i used the hdpe 32 oz bottle...make your life easy and get a flat sided bottle instead of a cylindrical one like i did. with no flat sides except the bottom, it took a lot more work/creativity to mount it in the bay.

every s13 should replace the coolant overflow!! the stock peice is rediculous!

Could you post pics of your setup? I just cracked the shit out of my overflow, so I should probably get around to replacing it, especially with the summer coming up..

Would it be necessary to put a hose fitting on the bottle near the bottom, or is it enough to just dunk the hose in through the opening in the top of the bottle? I'm already starting to get ideas for a trick setup.. :naughtyd:

[BustedS13]

Would it be necessary to put a hose fitting on the bottle near the bottom, or is it enough to just dunk the hose in through the opening in the top of the bottle? I'm already starting to get ideas for a trick setup.. :naughtyd:

MEGABUMP.

i'm thinking about just using a two by four of colt45 as a reservoir. would i have to fit the tube into the bottom of the can?

[julz]

i was thinking of just using the windshield washer resovoir as an overfow and disconnecting the squirters so i dont accidentally squirt coolant on the windshield

[240esux]

i used a gatorade bottle at the track. worked fine.

[MELLO*SOS]

About half of the replies in this thread don't seem to distinguish between a functional 'radiator overflow tank' and a simple 'catch can'. There's a big difference in how they work; one can return fluid back to the source, and the other just catches spilled fluid with no means to return it..

just put the drain tube down to the ground and let it spill

Dude, don't do that shit. You get antifreeze all over the roadways in the summertime, and it makes them slippery as hell. Not to mention all that antifreeze just ends up being in your drinking water at some point when it washes down the storm drain. Also I'd hope you're smart enough to realize that you'd never pass a tech inspection with that kind of setup... To anyone reading this thread who is thinking of going to some events someday, please don't run this kind of setup.

MEGABUMP.

i'm thinking about just using a two by four of colt45 as a reservoir. would i have to fit the tube into the bottom of the can?

I would.

If you look at how the stock "overflow" works (and most quality aftermarket tanks), it's not just a simple "catch can". It's setup to allow fluid to return to the radiator, by placing the hose at the bottom of the tank (assuming the tank has fluid in it always).

Supposedly, when the radiator cools off it can create a vacuum in the 'overflow' line and draw some fluid back into the rad. The logic/physics of this sorta boggle me, I would think that the spring and seal of the rad cap would prevent such action... Especially with a 1.3bar cap. Anyway that's how it's always explained and how I've come to accept it as operating.

If you just run a "catch can" setup, with a hose tucked a few inches into the top of an old water/gatorade/beer bottle, there would be no way to draw fluid back to the radiator under this vacuum condition (UNLESS you always kept the fluid level well above the hose). I'd guess there is a chance you'd get some air into your system over time, which might make you run into some overheating issues down the road..

Hope that made sense, good luck.

[S14DB]

They sell a universal overflow tank kit at the auto parts store for $8-12. Why jury rig it?

[Ineedparts]

Someone on here from australia has some bad ass ones for like 30 bux. I am running one of those universal ones from the parts store and I hate it.

[Fonix36]

Just go to your local auto parts and get a generic one its no more then ten bucks and you dont have to worry about it fucking up

[BustedS13]

somebody double check my work here

http://i37.tinypic.com/1zz6vyd.jpg

provided i punch a hole in the bottom of the can and epoxy/JB Weld a nipple in. i could also do a 32oz PBR or Labatt can.

[ESmorz]

somebody double check my work here

http://i37.tinypic.com/1zz6vyd.jpg

provided i punch a hole in the bottom of the can and epoxy/JB Weld a nipple in. i could also do a 32oz PBR or Labatt can.

That's pretty much how I have my generic Kragen overflow mounted.

Should work fine.

[GSXRJJordan]

Powered By Max has a very affordable ($65?) Greddy-style, taht will be my next purchase.

I had mine going to an Arrowhead bottle, but the bottle disappeared and I had droplets of water/water wetter spraying my windshield through my very functional hood vent. I realized then it was time for an upgrade lol.

[GKTECH]

We sell brand new S13/240sx replacement overflow bottles for only $33USD.

They can be seen here: http://zilvia.net/f/advertiser-specials-sales/211880-s13-240sx-replacement-radiator-over-flow-bottles-only-33-a.html

I don't like to spam threads with advertisements but I know the pain of having cracked overflow bottles (all the S13's and 180/240sx's I've ever owned have always had cracked overflow bottles)

Greg

[GKTECH]

Someone on here from australia has some bad ass ones for like 30 bux. I am running one of those universal ones from the parts store and I hate it.

That would be us:

http://www.gktech.com.au/dscf0008-small.jpg

http://www.gktech.com.au/dscf0007-small1.jpg (http://www.gktech.com.au/dscf0007-small.jpg) http://www.gktech.com.au/dscf0013-small1.jpg (http://www.gktech.com.au/dscf0013-small.jpg) http://www.gktech.com.au/dscf0016-small1.jpg (http://www.gktech.com.au/dscf0016-small.jpg) http://www.gktech.com.au/dscf0018-small1.jpg (http://www.gktech.com.au/dscf0018-small.jpg)

[Apex Eight]

We sell brand new S13/240sx replacement overflow bottles for only $33USD.

They can be seen here: http://zilvia.net/f/advertiser-specials-sales/211880-s13-240sx-replacement-radiator-over-flow-bottles-only-33-a.html

I don't like to spam threads with advertisements but I know the pain of having cracked overflow bottles (all the S13's and 180/240sx's I've ever owned have always had cracked overflow bottles)

Greg

Bump from the dead. Why are the tanks so much more expensive now?

[VNG704]

Because the $33 deal was a "special," as listed under advertiser specials. I would assume it means that's not the regular price.