I found out my surge tank is old and brittle and can see some coolant leaking around areas that arent hoses. About a quart low of coolant after couple hundred miles. Its runs 130$-160$ for the 97-99 but they have the 2000+ for 90$ or so cheapest i found. Whats the difference between the two?

 

97-thu 99 cars have a "LOW-COOLANT" warning system which is activated when the float in the surge tank activates the low level sensor.
Aging Effects> old tank Vs the new tank.>
For details, see my post number 9 in this thread coolant surge tank. here is the sensor. how does this work and can i replace it - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion



Cheers,
Goose

 

There are vids on YT on how to use some sort of mild acid that makes these tanks look new again. As for the leak(s), it may be cheaper, and just as good long term, to buy some of that white creamy stuff they use to slosh a leaky gas tank. It's not cheap, but it works well. Never heard of using it for antifreeze/water before, but if it works for gasoline, you'd think it would work for ethylene glycol. Just make sure to remove that sensor BEFORE sloshing that sealant cream around in there!!.....

 

So the tanks are the same just doesnt have the float on the 01 model? So i will have to put a resistor in the coolant level plug on my 99. I went ahead and ordered the 2001 tank for 63$ on sale from amazon as the float tank is twice as much.

 

Heres mine leaking theres a crack on the clear side. I got the 2001+ tank for 63$ on sale from amazon as the 99 is twice as much and going to put a diode or paperclip to bypass the low coolant sensor light.

 

Got the new tank 01-04 style on amazon for 63.20$. I went ahead and cut the plug straight wired it so the coolant light wouldn't come on. Now you can see the coolant level and see how brittle the old tank was.

 

It may be too late, but is there a way to remove the OEM float from the old tank and install it into the new tank? Sounds like the float level was not your original problem.

 

Forget my last comment. I went to the 'autopsy' section of the linked post. The float switch would need to be installed before the black quilted top is glued to the clear coolant tank.

 

Dont mind the tape. I pulled the old float directly from the bottom with pliars just has an o-ring and snug fit. What i did was purchase the 01-04 tank which is the same minus the float on amazon which is usually 79$ but was on sale for 63.20$ vs the 120-130$ new tank. Im not too sure you would have to drill the hole in the bottom of the tank or port as its a solid plastic cast. It may install i was able to remove the old float which looked new and store it in the garage before throwing the old tank away. It may insert into the slot all it has is an o ring and i removed it with pliars. Just the way the new tank is cast theres plastic one piece you would have to drill the hole for the float. If so it may cause leakage. Since the 01-04 vette and z06 doesnt have the sensor i just direct wired the two wires and last night on a 80-90 mile trip the low coolant light didnt turn on. You could insert wire into the plug but either way. That old one was so stained you couldnt see the coolant and you can see how brittle it was. The problem is the way its cast i believe one solid piece vs having a hole inside for the top of the float to slide in.

EDIT: I pulled the old surge tank from the trash and appears the bottom hole for the float doesn't enter the antifreeze or is a dead end hole or maybe i looked at it the wrong way.

 

I didn't see this this first time. It looks like the factory 99 surge tank float will fit in the later model 00+ c5 z06 surge tanks that didn't have a low coolant light. I went with the later style new tank for 63$ on sale from amazon as the 97-99 tanks new with float are 130$. Sad thing is i had already cut the plug and straight wired it so the coolant light wouldn't come on when using the later style tank on a 99. This should help someone in the future when replacing tanks if you arent wanting to spend the 50$ extra on the new float it comes with from gm.