Coolant recovery tank
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 79
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From: Reading, PA
Coolant recovery tank So I'm in the middle of reassembling my car after a 5 year hiatus, and my cooling system was previously full of sludge (yay Dexcool!). So I'm getting a new radiator, bypassing the heater core for now, and I was trying to clean out my recovery tank. The rubber hose that's crimped on was also in sad shape so I was trying to remove the whole plumbing when I snapped the metal tube off. 
Now I have a half-clean tank with a busted tube, it looks like all the replacement ones out there are tank only, so that only solves half the problem.
Anyone else have to replace their metal tube/pipe? Recommendations? Or should I just ditch the whole thing and get an aftermarket generic tank of some kind?
Now I have a half-clean tank with a busted tube, it looks like all the replacement ones out there are tank only, so that only solves half the problem.
Anyone else have to replace their metal tube/pipe? Recommendations? Or should I just ditch the whole thing and get an aftermarket generic tank of some kind?
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 513
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So I'm in the middle of reassembling my car after a 5 year hiatus, and my cooling system was previously full of sludge (yay Dexcool!). So I'm getting a new radiator, bypassing the heater core for now, and I was trying to clean out my recovery tank. The rubber hose that's crimped on was also in sad shape so I was trying to remove the whole plumbing when I snapped the metal tube off.
Now I have a half-clean tank with a busted tube, it looks like all the replacement ones out there are tank only, so that only solves half the problem.
Anyone else have to replace their metal tube/pipe? Recommendations? Or should I just ditch the whole thing and get an aftermarket generic tank of some kind?
Now I have a half-clean tank with a busted tube, it looks like all the replacement ones out there are tank only, so that only solves half the problem.
Anyone else have to replace their metal tube/pipe? Recommendations? Or should I just ditch the whole thing and get an aftermarket generic tank of some kind?
As far as cleaning out the tank 100% spotless......Gasoline. Degreaser will take days and days an still not get it all out. Just pour half gallon of gas in it....let it soak for one hour. Swish it around and shake it violently....let it sit again. I did 3-4 fills and dumps.....all the chunks and crud came flowing out each time.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Reading, PA
Where is your pipe broken off? Mine broke a few inches after it comes out of there tank rubber grommet. Piece of cake. Simply clamp on a piece of 3/8" heater hose. All you need is about 2 inches of pipe remaining after it comes out of the tank rubber grommet and makes that 90* turn inside that channel. Clamp on new heater hose.
As far as cleaning out the tank 100% spotless......Gasoline. Degreaser will take days and days an still not get it all out. Just pour half gallon of gas in it....let it soak for one hour. Swish it around and shake it violently....let it sit again. I did 3-4 fills and dumps.....all the chunks and crud came flowing out each time.
As far as cleaning out the tank 100% spotless......Gasoline. Degreaser will take days and days an still not get it all out. Just pour half gallon of gas in it....let it soak for one hour. Swish it around and shake it violently....let it sit again. I did 3-4 fills and dumps.....all the chunks and crud came flowing out each time.
So far I was just using dish detergent... got some good chunks out but definitely not as good as gas would probably do.
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Joined: Feb 2019
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......if the 3/8” heater hose is a little tight in the grommet.....just nite it out little by little with a drill bit.....
A metal line is not needed for the tank.....rubber hose is fine. There’s no pressure running through it, it’s just free flowing coolant.
Gasoline.....it’s the only way to clean the tank. Nothing else will work. Unless you spend a ton of money on some kind of other strong *** chemical.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 79
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From: Reading, PA
Dude... ran a small amount of gas through the tank, gave it a good shake for a few minutes and then dumped... looked like the next day after a bad burrito. Holy moly. Good tip, thanks!
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If you ever pull your intake to clean it....Gas is best. I let mine sit completely submerged in 100% gasoline in a plastic tub overnight, came out a few times to roll it around and move it while submerged......next day the tub was all black and crap floating on the surface and laying at the bottom. Took it out, rinsed it with hose water and it was like brand new inside and out.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Reading, PA
Cool...do it a couple more times to be sure its all out. Gas is better than all of the other cleaners out there...hurts nothing....and its cheaper.
If you ever pull your intake to clean it....Gas is best. I let mine sit completely submerged in 100% gasoline in a plastic tub overnight, came out a few times to roll it around and move it while submerged......next day the tub was all black and crap floating on the surface and laying at the bottom. Took it out, rinsed it with hose water and it was like brand new inside and out.
If you ever pull your intake to clean it....Gas is best. I let mine sit completely submerged in 100% gasoline in a plastic tub overnight, came out a few times to roll it around and move it while submerged......next day the tub was all black and crap floating on the surface and laying at the bottom. Took it out, rinsed it with hose water and it was like brand new inside and out.
^ Interesting.
After the tank is de-gunked, dish washing detergent will prep it for new coolant. (This is the factory procedure for new tanks and cleaning them off the shelf.)
After the tank is de-gunked, dish washing detergent will prep it for new coolant. (This is the factory procedure for new tanks and cleaning them off the shelf.)
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I also used a toilet brush to reem in and out of each runner to clean them......forgot to mention the good ole toilet brush......
I use degreaser to clean the inside of my WS6 hood every year. I cover my entire engine and fenders and plastic cowl with plastic. Then drench it with Formula 88. I do this several times until the stuff is just running down like a waterfall. Then hose it off with water and it’s clean. Then it needs any kind of quick spray detailed because degreaser leaves streaks. Or soap and water like you wash the exterior of the car with.
But good ole Gasoline cleans all the tough stuff.
...BUT... It is wicked dangerous to deal with when not in a proper gas can or gas tank. When this genie is "out of the bottle" it's very powerful, but it vaporizes instantly and creates a heavier than air gas that hugs the ground.
When using it, we should advise to only use VERY small quantities and in an area outside with lots of ventilation. This procedure would not be safe to do in a garage, inside a home, (gasoline should never come inside in any form...) or with a large quantity. Any rags used to clean up the aftermath would be highly flammable (think Molotov cocktail) and a fraction of a cup can be explosive in a small garage or room. (as it vaporizes)
When using it, we should advise to only use VERY small quantities and in an area outside with lots of ventilation. This procedure would not be safe to do in a garage, inside a home, (gasoline should never come inside in any form...) or with a large quantity. Any rags used to clean up the aftermath would be highly flammable (think Molotov cocktail) and a fraction of a cup can be explosive in a small garage or room. (as it vaporizes)