Expansion tank location

P

PeterZRH

Well-Known Member
Quick question, ‘scuse me if it it a bit silly. I’ve bought an MGB type tank and the matching bracket. It seems common to mount it on the right hand side (driver perspective) behind the brake servo. However, this is very close to the brake manifold and piping. Is there any potential issue with this or are the temperatures involved not likely to matter? I guess when hot and the fluid is pushed along about 35cm of pipe it simply cools in the tank?

Anyone who has a couple of good pictures of the location and mounting then as usual I’ll be grateful.
 
Cheers, so basically right on top of the pipework with no issues. Dunno if its the funny angle of the last picture but mine looks a lot taller than that (overall height is slightly less than an A4 piece of paper). I'm assuming in the real world its the same.

I regret now actually not getting one with some kind of low level warning float switch. I'm pleased at how my cooling project is working out. No more driving with one-eye on the temperature gauge.
 


Ethel needs one of these - she's always been a spitter but she never overheats - if you top the rad up Ethel will spit half of it out and be quite happy with the water that's left - she'll stay cool no matter what.

The Blue McFoo has no expansion tank and is happy to use the full range of the temperature gauge without overheating - for instance thanks to a smash on the M74, we had an ill-tempered slog along the A72 into Lanark, up a steep hill in sweltering heat - I was making myself ill, convinced my car was going to overheat but it didn't - it was me worrying about nothing.
 
:) but it is worrying peering through the cap and seeing several inches of exposed matrix which is supposed to be doing a very important job...

Well 15 PSI gives you a 121 degree boiling point for water and probably nearer 130 degrees with a decent glycol mix. So boiling is going to be difficult but I'm not sure it wasn't exactly great for her health. For a start the oil is going to be out of its comfort zone.

Might be worth checking out what temperature she really runs at by pointing an IR thermometer on the thermostat housing. The temperature gauge ain't no precision instrument to say the least.
 
PeterZRH said:
:) but it is worrying peering through the cap and seeing several inches of exposed matrix which is supposed to be doing a very important job...

Well 15 PSI gives you a 121 degree boiling point for water and probably nearer 130 degrees with a decent glycol mix. So boiling is going to be difficult but I'm not sure it wasn't exactly great for her health. For a start the oil is going to be out of its comfort zone.

Might be worth checking out what temperature she really runs at by pointing an IR thermometer on the thermostat housing. The temperature gauge ain't no precision instrument to say the least.
Click to expand...

If you mean Ethel, yes I agree with all that you say but I've had the car so long that I know her habits. As you say, the gauge is no precision instrument but the previous owner advised me that the gauge stays in the white during normal operation and 8 years on, he's still right.

If Ethel's gauge goes into the green it means a hissy hose or a hole in the rad. I will get a tank for the car because I can see how much water and coolant they save.

By the way, Hildegarde's tank is from a Triumph Dollop'o'shite but I'm told that Morris Marina (and presumably Ital) tanks are also ideal.
 
The tank on mine, also from an MGB, is in the same place (I think) as you're planning to put yours:
enginev82_zps928ab53a.jpg


It's not caused me any trouble in that location.

HTH
 
Same tank, same strap, same location. Thanks, that comprehensively answers that question.

Does it physically touch the pipework out of curiosity or did you make a small air-gap?
 
Hi, those tank come in a number of versions if you are worried about it's mounting. There is
the upright like yours or sideways or flat, the sideways or flat as fitted to Range Rovers have
level warning switch.



Colin
 

Attachments

  • sideways.jpg
    sideways.jpg
    33.9 KB · Views: 260
  • Flat.jpg
    Flat.jpg
    119.3 KB · Views: 255
Mine has some electrical contacts on it, but then it's see through so you can see when it gets low (It never has done)

Not quite sure how to wire it up anyway :? but could use the choke warning light if i ever work it out

 
Richard, I quite fancy a tank* like yours, do you know what vehicle it came out of?

*Expansion tank that is, I'm not suggesting your car is a Panzer, although I'm pretty sure it is a weapon!
 
PeterZRH said:
Same tank, same strap, same location. Thanks, that comprehensively answers that question.

Does it physically touch the pipework out of curiosity or did you make a small air-gap?
Click to expand...
I'm really not sure - I'll go and have a look after dinner.
 
That sure is a beautiful engine bay Quattro. The tank looks the part.

I'm thinking a level indicator is useful over the clear tank to give an instant warning in case you rapidly lose coolant, like a split hose. Might give you a few seconds extra to switch off.
 
I've temporarily taken my MG style tank off, while I think about how it can be done better. It's mounted where people have been suggesting, getting in the way of sparkie access, but more seriously , I wasn't happy with it chaffing the brake pipes. Definitely go for a gap!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top