Coolant Surge Tank question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Coolant Surge Tank question
I think i have a leak in my coolant tank. Is it possible to pull the tank without draining the radiator. Or will there always be some coolant in there? I have a leak but my coolant temps are normal. So i am thinking it's in the surge tank or one of the hoses going into it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
The coolant over flow is fed by a single hose at the top towards the back near the battery. The tank has a sealed pressure cap so there is other outlet. If you remove the hose from the tank and hold it higher than the radiator there should be no mess or run out from the radiator. If your tank is full there could be some spillage from the hose outlet so cap it to keep everything dry when you take out the tank. Probably would be a good idea to siphon out the tank first.
I noticed some coolant on the edge of my tank where the black top meets the clear bottom a few weeks ago. I thought the tank was leaking but it was actually the hose connection at the tank. I removed the spring clamp and replaced it with a strap clamp - no more leaks.
I noticed some coolant on the edge of my tank where the black top meets the clear bottom a few weeks ago. I thought the tank was leaking but it was actually the hose connection at the tank. I removed the spring clamp and replaced it with a strap clamp - no more leaks.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Thought the problem might be connected to my coolant tank but i drove it last night and temps were okay once again. Does the radiator keep a small amount of coolant in the surge tank at all times? If it doesn't than i guess i will have to look someplace else for the leak? Hard to visually verify if there' coolant in the tank and i haven't added any since i noticed the leak.
Last edited by PUREFUN; Jul 23, 2007 at 10:56 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
The tank has a line mark on the clear bottom portion in the front that is the proper fill level. The tank should always have fluid in it to that line.
The tank is not an over flow but a pressurized part of the cooling system for expansion when hot - it has a pressure cap and should be sealed.
If you are loosing fluid in the tank and there are no obvious leaks, puddles of coolant under the car and the cap is tight and sealed, then you could have a more serious problem like a blown head gasket. Coolant may be leaking into one or more cylinders and being burned with the fuel mixture. If its not a bad leak, you might not even notice it except for the constant need to refill the coolant expansion tank.
The tank is not an over flow but a pressurized part of the cooling system for expansion when hot - it has a pressure cap and should be sealed.
If you are loosing fluid in the tank and there are no obvious leaks, puddles of coolant under the car and the cap is tight and sealed, then you could have a more serious problem like a blown head gasket. Coolant may be leaking into one or more cylinders and being burned with the fuel mixture. If its not a bad leak, you might not even notice it except for the constant need to refill the coolant expansion tank.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
The tank has a line mark on the clear bottom portion in the front that is the proper fill level. The tank should always have fluid in it to that line.
The tank is not an over flow but a pressurized part of the cooling system for expansion when hot - it has a pressure cap and should be sealed.
If you are loosing fluid in the tank and there are no obvious leaks, puddles of coolant under the car and the cap is tight and sealed, then you could have a more serious problem like a blown head gasket. Coolant may be leaking into one or more cylinders and being burned with the fuel mixture. If its not a bad leak, you might not even notice it except for the constant need to refill the coolant expansion tank.
The tank is not an over flow but a pressurized part of the cooling system for expansion when hot - it has a pressure cap and should be sealed.
If you are loosing fluid in the tank and there are no obvious leaks, puddles of coolant under the car and the cap is tight and sealed, then you could have a more serious problem like a blown head gasket. Coolant may be leaking into one or more cylinders and being burned with the fuel mixture. If its not a bad leak, you might not even notice it except for the constant need to refill the coolant expansion tank.
Have ramps and checked underneath but still really no room to see anything
I'm definitely no mechanic but i am hoping it's something i can attempt on my own
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I just replaced mine when I discovered the small line from the upper area of it, had a hairline crack in it. They only cost $50 new. I used a turkey baster however its spelled and removed most all of the coolant from it before removing it totally. It was a pain to do that way, but it wasn't so messy.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 8
From: Centre, AL
And fill it up correctly....
http://www.imcool.com/articles/antif...l-macs2001.htm
1. Keep the cooling system filled. In fact, fill the reservoir bottle to “Hot” level when the system is cold. Problems arise when a system’s coolant level is not maintained. (Fleet vehicles receiving regular maintenance, and with reservoirs kept slightly above normal, do not show signs of contamination. This even applies to the specific “problem” vehicles.)
http://www.imcool.com/articles/antif...l-macs2001.htm
1. Keep the cooling system filled. In fact, fill the reservoir bottle to “Hot” level when the system is cold. Problems arise when a system’s coolant level is not maintained. (Fleet vehicles receiving regular maintenance, and with reservoirs kept slightly above normal, do not show signs of contamination. This even applies to the specific “problem” vehicles.)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Definitely has a leak and has a constant drip. Visually can't see anything from under the surge tank. But i am going to pull the tank now and hopefully it's surge tank related. Otherwise because of the turbos everything is going to be hard to get at Have ramps and checked underneath but still really no room to see anything I'm definitely no mechanic but i am hoping it's something i can attempt on my own
Have ramps and checked underneath but still really no room to see anything I'm definitely no mechanic but i am hoping it's something i can attempt on my own
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
In all other cars, when loosing coolant through a head gasket it normally ends up in the oil. Would this not also be the case with the LS1?
I haven't verified the cap is sealing tight and I guess the surge tank/hoses could be leaking only under pressure....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
I don't think it is a common problem for coolant to dissappear and not know where it is going.
If there are not obvious leaks aroung the tank, radiator or hoses, I would start looking at the water pump. Check the weep hole on the bottom for signs of coolant deposits. It can drip from the water pump, hit on other parts of the suspension or frame, and make it hard to tell where the source is.
If there are not obvious leaks aroung the tank, radiator or hoses, I would start looking at the water pump. Check the weep hole on the bottom for signs of coolant deposits. It can drip from the water pump, hit on other parts of the suspension or frame, and make it hard to tell where the source is.
