What exactly does the coolant reserve tank do? I usually just top off my radiator if it needs it?

Question

Is it possible to overfill your coolant reserve tank? Is it ok to have coolant past the "full" level? How does the coolant reserve tank work?

Answer 1

When the coolant in your car heats up, it expands, the coolant reserve tank captures the excess coolant caused by this expansion. When the coolant cools down after shutting down your car, it contracts and the extra coolant in the reserve tank is sucked back into the radiator. It is best to fill the reserve tank to the proper level when the car is cold. If you overfill it it will overflow on to the ground through the overflow tube, this will not hurt anything.

Answer 2

It'll be O.K. When you install a replacement tank - you may have to add some coolant to the radiator. Should not take much - maybe none - if the weather is cold where you are located? The radiator cap controls the pressure/coolant release according to heat buildup in the cooling system so - The cap will only release enough to re-leave pressure and then close. Just be sure to top it off when the engine is cold.

Answer 3

It's needed because the coolant in your engine expands when it is heated. On the old cars, before these tanks were commonly used, the radiator cap acted as a pressure relief valve. Without any sort of pressure relief, hoses would fail, head gaskets would fail, radiators would fail, etc. When the pressure was released, coolant would run out an overflow tube and on to the ground. Not very environmentally friendly. Also, now that some of your coolant ran on to the ground, the engine is now low on coolant. This usually was not a problem as these cooling systems were designed to work this way.

In modern cooling systems, when the coolant expands, a pressure relief valve opens allowing the excess coolant to flow into an expansion tank. When the engine coolant cools and contracts, the coolant is allowed to flow back into the engine.

Answer 4

Radiator Reserve Tank

Answer 5

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The reserve is there to catch the overflow of fluid caused by the increase in temperature. Once it cools back down the fluid is sucked back out of the tank and back into the radiator. If it's not there the fluid would just spill out everywhere and eventually you'd be missing fluid in your cooling system. Which could cause your car to run hot, overheat, or seize altogether. It's not an immediate problem and you could probably get away with a few days driving with out. Just make sure you check the level in the radiator BEFORE you start your car each day so it's not hot. If it's full you should be ok. PS-Don't use water if it's below freezing. The water could freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heads, and anything else that has water in it.

Answer 6

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RE:

What exactly does the coolant reserve tank do? I usually just top off my radiator if it needs it?

Is it possible to overfill your coolant reserve tank? Is it ok to have coolant past the "full" level? How does the coolant reserve tank work?

Answer 7

Radiator Reservoir Tank

Answer 8

AS THE COOLANT EXPANDS DUE TO HEAT AND CIRCULATION SOME OF THE EXCESS IS BLED OFF THRU THEE RADIATOR CAP AND RATHER THAN LOSING IT ON THE GROUND IT IS STORED IN THE COOLANT RECOVERY TANK

AS THE SYSTEM COOLS IT IS SUCKED BACK INTO THE ENGINE

IF YOU ARE A LITTTLE HIGH OR LOW IT WONT KILL YOU BUT IT IS AN EASY JOB TO REFILL TO THE PROPER LEVEL WHEN THE ENGINE IS COOL

Answer 9

Water expands when it gets hot and thats where the water goes when it is expanded the reserve tank,never fill the reserve tank up youre doing the right thing by just filling up the radiator...

Answer 10

it is a resevoir for overflow from the vehicle running too hot and for when the coolant is getting low.without it we would be back in the 60's&70's when cars almost always overheated from lack of coolant and cracked engine blocks from not enough coolant.because people tend to forget to check their levels.

Answer 11

If you have to do this often (daily or weekly depending on amount of driving you do) it's a sign that your car isn't working properly and you should have it checked out. Especially if you see puddles of coolant under your car.



If you have to add a bit here or there, like once a month or so, that's no big deal.

Answer 12

When coolant gets hot it expands .surplus ends up in that tank .That's why the tank has a cold and hot level .

Answer 13

1) "RESERVE"

2) invalid question

3) yes

4) "COOLANT"