Those who have replaced the stock battery tray/coolant overflow with a catch can...
11-08-2007, 09:08 AM
#1
Those who have replaced the stock battery tray/coolant overflow with a catch can... Does anyone have pics of theirs? I did the swap on mine and here is a pic of how I did it, but I am thinking I need to switch the hose to the bottom of the catch can, intstead of the top to recover the fluid.
11-08-2007, 11:30 AM
#2
I ran mine the same way you did, but I put the bottle in where the spare tire is in the back, that way if the thing were to ever overflow the fluid won't hit the tires and cause a crash. When you do it the way you have it hooked up and the way I have it hooked up it will not recover fluid anymore, so you will find yourslef running the radiator lower then you used to. I have had mine this way all season and no problems. I have the stock radiator about 2 inches down from the top and that's as low as it's gotten, and no more fluid is finding it's way to the overflow bottle now.
I'd move that thing to the back of the car, for safety reasons. And give it a little time, let the coolant get into the bottle and keep draining it, and just see how low the radiator gets before it stops getting fluid in the bottle, my guess is that it will get a couple inches down, and stay there.
I'd move that thing to the back of the car, for safety reasons. And give it a little time, let the coolant get into the bottle and keep draining it, and just see how low the radiator gets before it stops getting fluid in the bottle, my guess is that it will get a couple inches down, and stay there.
11-08-2007, 11:35 AM
#3
Yeah I have had it like this for about three weeks and noticed if I start the car up in the morning for work and let it warm up at idle, the coolant light comes on by the time I get in it, and I have to fill it up a little. I can live with that if I have to do it every now and then, I just wanted to make sure it was alright this way without recovering it. Thanks man!
11-08-2007, 11:41 AM
#4
No problem. Old school cars didn't recover fluid at all, so think of it like that. Cars back in the 60's had non-return style overflows, and you were constantly addin a little coolant and draining the overflow, doing what you (and I) have done just makes it like that.
Move that thing to the back though, for safety, and to shift the weight out of the engine bay.. cleans it up some more too
Move that thing to the back though, for safety, and to shift the weight out of the engine bay.. cleans it up some more too
11-08-2007, 12:08 PM
#5
No problem. Old school cars didn't recover fluid at all, so think of it like that. Cars back in the 60's had non-return style overflows, and you were constantly addin a little coolant and draining the overflow, doing what you (and I) have done just makes it like that.
Move that thing to the back though, for safety, and to shift the weight out of the engine bay.. cleans it up some more too
Move that thing to the back though, for safety, and to shift the weight out of the engine bay.. cleans it up some more too
How did you route yours? Did you run the hose under the car? Any pics?
11-08-2007, 12:14 PM
#6
As usual, no pictures. But yes, I ran it in thru the grommit on teh passenger's side, along the edge of the cick panel under the carpet and up to the bottle where I mounted it in the fenderwell, I was actually able to use one fo the existing holes from the amp to hold the bottle in place. I used some washers to space it out for the bolt lenth/curvature of the bottle and the wheel well. Then I put a small hose off the drain and put it thru a hole I drilled in the rubber drain grommit that is in the bottom of the spare tire well. Works out great, reach in and hit the ball valve lever to drain takes about 5 seconds to drain out any little bit that gets there, and the radiator has been good at about 2 inches lower then it's supposed to be (cold)
11-08-2007, 12:20 PM
#7
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i dont know y but on my car i have the coolant overflow just directed to the ground and in the couple months ive done it ive never had temp above 185, no lights, and the coolant has stayed at a constent level in the radiator.
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11-08-2007, 03:29 PM
#8
Matt, if you just hook the hose up to the bottom it will recover the fluid just like the stocker. Why anyone would want to run their radiator low or dick with adding coolant is beyond me. I installed mine where the spare tire was, with the hose on the bottom.
You don't want to run your cooling system low on coolant, thats inviting corrosion. Also, "older" cars that just had puke tanks often had a hose running to the bottom of the tank to recover fluid to the radiator.
You don't want to run your cooling system low on coolant, thats inviting corrosion. Also, "older" cars that just had puke tanks often had a hose running to the bottom of the tank to recover fluid to the radiator.
11-08-2007, 07:31 PM
#11
Yeah the battery is heavy, and I am going to go to a lightweight one soon. It is on the "to do" list, as well as a k-member, a-arms, drag brakes, etc. It's a pig at 2975 with a half tank of gas!
11-08-2007, 07:56 PM
#12
SI the PC680 will be fine for use up north, just rember no reserve.
get the non metal liner for motorcyle, and stuff, little ligher.
Or the brail even lighter
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2353060
get the non metal liner for motorcyle, and stuff, little ligher.
Or the brail even lighter
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2353060
11-08-2007, 09:19 PM
#14
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I mounted mine on the radiator support right next to the radiator and the radiator hose is connected to the bottom of the catch can.
Good Idea about running a really long over flow hose to the back of the car.
I know a guy that broke a radiator hose and wet the tires and ended up making a 9 something pass sliding through the lights on the roof =)
What about running a 2nd overflow ? You would eliminate the need for a super long hose and the extra quart capacity with the one it already has would be enough to catch an over flow?
What would weigh more a second 1 quart can or 8 feet of 5/16 rubber hose?
Good Idea about running a really long over flow hose to the back of the car.
I know a guy that broke a radiator hose and wet the tires and ended up making a 9 something pass sliding through the lights on the roof =)
What about running a 2nd overflow ? You would eliminate the need for a super long hose and the extra quart capacity with the one it already has would be enough to catch an over flow?
What would weigh more a second 1 quart can or 8 feet of 5/16 rubber hose?
11-08-2007, 09:36 PM
#15
Good to know. I just changed mine out to a Moroso one and I have it running to the top. I noticed it runs about an inch low in the radiator and if I add any it will just go back to the same and fill the overflow some more and if I keep adding it will eventually fill the overflow and come out and I have to drain the overflow. I think I'm gonna try the hose on the bottom thing.
Here is mine now:
http://one8thmile.com/sitebuilder/im...15-600x449.jpg
Here is mine now:
http://one8thmile.com/sitebuilder/im...15-600x449.jpg
11-10-2007, 08:37 AM
#17
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I had mine setup the same way and after hearing the wet tire story enough i changed it to the rear as well.. i ran the hose through the fender and back like the wire delete mod..
its safer and looks cleaner..
its safer and looks cleaner..
11-10-2007, 08:49 AM
#18
Good to know. I just changed mine out to a Moroso one and I have it running to the top. I noticed it runs about an inch low in the radiator and if I add any it will just go back to the same and fill the overflow some more and if I keep adding it will eventually fill the overflow and come out and I have to drain the overflow. I think I'm gonna try the hose on the bottom thing.
