The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop radiator overflow reservoir

Will adding an overflow reservoir to my 1953 radiator work out well. I'm pretty sure that catching the overflow will work fine, but I"m not at all sure that the non pressurized system will suck the coolant back up into the radiator as the engine cools. I'm curious what experiences you folks have had trying this. Antifreeze has gotten so expensive that I just hate the idea of wasting any of it.

My "new" truck is a 283 V8 with a 7 psi system. I added an overflow bottle so I could keep oxygen out of the cooling system, works as I hoped, as the system heat cycles it pushes a little into the bottle, as it cools down it draws it back in, the radiator is always completely full. If you use a radiator cap that won't vent to the atmosphere, then it should work.

As long as the end of the overflow tube is below the surface of the liquid in the reservoir, the vacuum created in the cooling system as the engine cools down should siphon the coolant back in. Make sure the catch can is located near the top of the radiator to minimize the amount of lift the return has to make. Also be sure the radiator cap makes a good seal on the filler neck.
Jerry

My 1950 non pressurized engine.
It works great!
I made a small bracket (not pretty) then I use a Re-pop-oil glass bottle.

cool, love it

Yes. This truck had one already installed but not properly hooked up. I plumbed it correctly and with a proper cap. I would not normally place it so high but it works perfectly with a 4 lb pressure cap. Fills to the high mark when hot and goes down to the low mark when cold.

For other vehicles, I've used a Dorman product that looks really good but you have to make your own brackets or figure out another method to utilize the 4 existing mounting holes it comes with. Dorman also makes a similar reservoir that comes with a basket to hang it on the firewall or wherever but I don't like the looks of it.

The Dorman reservoir is on the 1966 Toronado. Dorman part number 603-001. It's a good quality unit and only about $8 or so.

This previous discussion would be of interest to you. I can see why you didn't find it as it's referred to as a "puke tank" here:
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...-your-coolant-puke-tank.html#Post1415309

Be sure whatever you use has the hose at the bottom of the container. If it just dumps the excess coolant into the container at the top, It's just a recovery tank that keeps the coolant from spilling on the ground and won't draw it back into the radiator as the engine cools.

For a reservoir to work properly, the overflow hose has to withdraw the coolant from the bottom of the container. The radiator should be filled to the very top of the filler neck without leaving an air pocket in the upper radiator tank.

I never did report back on my puke tank completion. It’s an antique freezer jar mounted to the core support with a fire extinguisher bracket. It does siphon back to the radiator once it cools. Has an overflow hose routed underneath the rad.

I like that idea...
I was going to use an old Pepsi-Cola bottle..
But I went with the old oil bottle.

All nice neat recovery system installations,most recovery tanks come with a flat gasket to put on your cap so it will recover right ??

No.

Use your regular cap on the stock radiator.

A cap with a spring that seats on the inside shoulder of the filler neck is sufficient as long as it has a poppet valve that opens to allow coolant to flow in and out of the overflow tube.


As long as coolant can reach the overflow port, it will work. Be sure to fill your radiator to the top of the filler neck rather than leaving an air space in the upper rad tank.