[DML] Re: Coolant Bottle Failure Mode

["David Teitelbaum" <jtrealty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The plastic header bottle IS a ticking time bomb. They were not meant
to last this long. Between the heat and the aging the plastic is
breaking down and it is just a matter of time to failure. Some vendors
offer a S/S bottle and some offer aluminum. As far as use matters they
are equal, it is only a matter of looks which one to chose, the S/S
one is also more expensive. As for checking the level, it is pretty
hard to see the level in an old, plastic bottle anyway. If you want to
see the level I recomend adding an overflow bottle attached to the
header bottle as used on all new cars. Another option is to just check
the level by removing the radiator cap when the motor is cold, once a
week. My guess at what really kills the bottles is if you ran the
coolant level too low because of slow leaks eventually the motor will
shoot superheated steam into the header bottle. This is not what the
plastic bottle was made for and it will blow it apart. If you look
closely at the plastic bottle you will see all little lines in it.
They look like stress cracks in the plastic. It could be a sign of
overstress and/or aging and it is scary. That's why I put a metal tank
on my car.
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757





--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "drdhdmd" <doctorDHD@...> wrote:
>
> Is there any trend in the way coolant bottles fail?  I thought I 
> previosly read that the ones that failed, did so early.  Does that mean 
> mine that has 80 - 100K miles is relatively immune to failure or is it 
> a ticking time bomb?
> 
> Are there any replacements still out there other than the stainless 
> steel models?
> 
> Any known  / documented cross references to plastic one so you can 
> still view the water level without opening the cap?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> D² & 6530
> Dave Delman
>








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