Radiator Reserve Tank

[ddewhurst]

When I read within my 1985 RX-7 workshop manual relative to the cooling system about the cooling level check it states. "With coolant cold check whether the coolant level is near the inlet port, and whether the level in the reserve tank is between FULL and LOW marks."

My question to those in the know is, when one changes radiators may one also change the RESERVE TANK being that the RESERVE TANK is part of the radiator IMHJ?

Reference, when one wants to check the fluid level in the radiator one looks through the wall of the RESERVE TANK.

I had no desire to post this subject in the rules forum because there are no written rules about the RESERVE TANK.

Have Fun http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif
David

[Knestis]

No surprise but, since there is no rule in the ITCS speaking to the issue, my tendency is to invoke IIDSYCYC - so, no.

It is an interesting question, though. I personally wouldn't have even thought to ask it because the VW answer is pretty darned good. I don't know how I would improve it.

K

[lateapex911]

One angle might be....

If you call Mazda, and order a new radiator, do you get a radiator with a reserve tank?

ie, are they integrated into one part number?

If not, IIDSYCYC

------------------
Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

[ddewhurst]

Come on Kirk work with me a bit. Pretend that you could down size the RESERVE TANK & then a 4 inch diameter cool air duck would fit to draw air from within the engine bay from the three very sizable OEM holes at the front header panel. Is the RESERVE TANK part of the radiator?

Have Fun http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif
David

[Joe Harlan]

What? did some strange planet alignment happen? Dewhurst trying to stretch a rule... http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/smile.gif

[ddewhurst]

Jake, the radiator is an ANY therfore if a reserve tank came with my new ANY radiator I would beleive I could use the smaller RESERVE TANK.

Have Fun http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif
David

[ddewhurst]

Joe, just ask Jake how slow these torque limited 7's are. Again, what if a RESERVE TANK came with my ANY radiator.

Have Fun http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif
David

[jake7140]

If the duck is live, would that count as a passenger? Hope the quacking doesn't tip off the tech inspectors.

------------------
Steve
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</A><A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/elrss" TARGET=_blank>Elkhart Lake Racing_&_Sipping Society
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[lateapex911]

Sometimes you just want something badly enough that you can talk yourself into things....

never hurts to try...

In this case, I think it's a stretch...as the rad is free, you might be able to add a bottle if you want, but removing the stock one...I just don't think the answer lies in considering it to be integral to the rad..it just isn't.

------------------
Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

[apr67]

Jake.

What if you swtiched to a radiator that had a built in resivor? Then the external expanstion tank would not be required.

This is touchy, but.

On a VW (like a rabbit GTI). That tank is where the pressure cap for the 'radiator' is. Is it that way on the RX? IF so, I would belive it is part of the raditor, the manufacture just chose (usually due to design of the car) to put it elsewhere).

Why anyone would bother I don't know, unless that's where you need to put the NOS.

http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/smile.gif

[Knestis]

Originally posted by apr67:
... On a VW (like a rabbit GTI). That tank is where the pressure cap for the 'radiator' is. ... I would belive it is part of the raditor, the manufacture just chose (usually due to design of the car) to put it elsewhere). (Emphasis added)

Not a personal attack but it frankly pisses me off when this kind of non-logic gets applied.

If one is using different words in his own description of the situation, that is prima facia evidence that he doesn't truly believe his own argument.

Saying that the "tank" is part of the "radiator" is completely disingenuous. They are two different pieces and the location of the pressure cap has absolutely no bearing on the definition of "radiator."

PLEASE consider what the sum of 500 IT entrants all doing this same thing with their pet part would do to the longterm level of preparation of the category.

K

[This message has been edited by Knestis (edited February 15, 2005).]

[ddewhurst]

***Why anyone would bother I don't know, unless that's where you need to put the NOS.**

apr67, a guy would be dead meat with the NOS in that space I am trying to use. http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/smile.gif But I'm a beleiver in cooler air to the carb & there is not room for a 4 inch cool air duct with the big ol RESERVE TANK in the way. The OEM header panel has three big ol holes that let in the fresh air from outside the motor bay.

By logic, when we put a after market spoiler on the front of our cars we are not required to keep the OEM panels under the new spoiler. Therfore when I purchase my new ANY radiator, I receive this big ol cardboard box & inside is the raditor, a rubber hose connected to the radiator & a much smaller/thiner RESERVE TANK connected to the other end of the rubber hose. Same deal, I remove the OEM parts & replace with the ANY radiator I just received.

Please continue http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif
David

ps: I don't often look for a hole to strech but sometimes a man needs to do what he needs to do. If we add up all the little things there will be a gain.

[lateapex911]

So everybody understands the situation here, the tank in question is, (on mine at least) about 8" tall and about 5 or so inches wide, and is attached to the bracket that the radiator mounts to. David says it blocks an opening (haven't noticed it myself) in the vertical header panel that he prefers to use as a cold air inlet.

It's a standard overflow deal, plastic tube inside, rubber hose to the radiator neck, holds a couple quarts, maybe.

My angle is that it's a part of the cooling system , but not part of the radiator proper. IMHO, of course.

------------------
Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

[apr67]

Jake,

If its just the overflow bottle, I agree.

Some cars use a seperate tank for the radiator. The rad doesn't even have a cap on it, its on the seperate tank.

When you replace that OEM rad with say, a griffen, the new rad will have the tank built in, you (IMHO) can ditch the oem tank.

[Daryl DeArman]

David,

Since the air cleaner is pretty much "free" as long as you get the air from a source within the confines....blah, blah, blah...

I found it more beneficial to get the cold fresh air from the low pressure area near the windshield base.

Originally I had done, just what you desire (For the record this was not an IT car) but at a particular race, I had some 'contact' that ended up putting some debris/body parts in that hole which acted like a big choke plate and performance went to poop.

Attempt 2 had me removing the windshield wiper assemblies and motor (again non-it car) and sourcing the air from that big void underneath that louvered panel.

It was a noticible improvement over design #1.

So perhaps you can find some existing holes in that area that you could draw air from without attaching the air cleaner assembly to the firewall as to avoid "cowl" induction. You'll be just as good cold air wise, if not more so. The air near that windshield is cooler than the air immediately around the radiator. The long hose (if up front) acts as a pretty good heat sink due to it's proximity to the headers and it's lenght.

Just food for thought from someone who has been there without the rules tying me down. Been too long since I've even looked under the hood of a 1st gen, don't know what kind of holes you might have access to.