Learn All About Auto Coolant Recovery Tank & Parts

Coolant Recovery Tank is a hard and transparent plastic bottle. It is fitted in the vehicle’s engine compartment, either at the right or left corner. It has three openings of different sizes. Two openings are for inlet and outlet which are connected with coolant hose, to transfer coolant in the engine and receive coolant from radiator. The third opening is for the coolant tank cap. In older models, radiators were used as coolant tanks. They were fitted with metal caps which are known as radiator caps. These radiator caps had rubber seal and spring attached to it.

These tanks comprise toughened plastic, although they can sometimes comprise aluminium and they are affixed to the inside of the fender or to other places within the vehicle’s engine bay using a special mounting kit. In unpressurized systems, it might be possible to get a universal engine coolant recovery tank, which is designed to fit a lot of automobiles. The connecting hoses are made up of braided rubber, which are held in place with clips or adjustable metal fasteners.

The coolant recovery tank comes in different shapes and sizes depending on the model and liters of the engine. Coolant system parts such as hoses come in different shapes and sizes. Usually, coolant hoses comprise hard plastic, rubber or metal pipes. In older models, radiators were used as coolant tanks.

Have a look at the following reasons due to which a Coolant Recovery Tank might fail:

1. Cracks might develop
2. Overheating
3. There might be a failure in the pressurized cap

Here are the symptoms of failure of Coolant Recovery Tank:

1. There might be constantly low coolant levels
2. There might be visible leaks
3. Car engine might overheat

The failure of Coolant Recovery Tank has lots of consequences. If you will drive the vehicle with a faulty coolant recovery tank, then it can cause overheating and might cause failure of the cylinder head gasket, engine block, or cylinder head. If you will neglect an improperly working cooling system, then it can surely result in catastrophic engine damage. 

The coolant recovery tank is known as a reservoir that stores the fluid for the cooling system. It is transparent due to which coolant level can be checked in the tank. Coolant can be added to the tank by opening its cap. Antifreeze additive can also be added through this cap. Coolant tanks and coolant hoses can bear pressure and heat of the coolant without getting damaged or cracked. Parts such as the radiator, coolant hoses, coolant water pump, work together to cool the engine. To maintain the correct level of coolant in the coolant tank, they are marked with level indicators, such as maximum and minimum. There is also a coolant level sensor in the tank, which blinks on the cluster if the level goes down. You can also know the status of the coolant temperature on the cluster through coolant temperature gauge.

The coolant circulates in the vehicle’s engine from the coolant tank. When the engine is cranked, the coolant is then circulated from the tank into the engine block through coolant hose or coolant pipes. The engine block has a water pump, which creates a pressure to throw the coolant into the complete engine. When the temperature reaches between 80 to 90 degree Celsius, the thermostat in the engine opens and the hot coolant then moves from the engine to the radiator. The radiator core has fins and is made up of aluminium. There is a fan attached to the radiator. The hot coolant activates the thermo switch (fitted usually on the radiator or coolant hose), due to which the fan gets operated, helping the hot coolant in the radiator to cool. This cool coolant is then transferred to the coolant tank through pipes and hoses. This process keeps on circulating and is known as a cooling system. The air in the coolant tank provides a cushioning effect that allows the heated coolant to expand without causing the cooling system to fail. This is to prevent the system from becoming over-pressurized as the coolant heats and expands.

Common problems include requiring to constantly add coolant, searching coolant leaks, and overheating of the car engine.

1. Constantly low on coolant - The first symptom, which is associated with a failing coolant reservoir, is the requirement to constantly add coolant. If there are small leaks or cracks in the reservoir, then it can cause coolant to store the leak or it might start evaporating at a slow rate. The leaks might be small, so that they might be visible to the driver, but with passing time they will cause the reservoir to empty. There might be a constant need to add coolant can also be caused because of a leak somewhere else on the car engine, so there might be a need for proper diagnosis.
2. Coolant leaks - One another symptom of a potential issue with the coolant reservoir is leakage in the coolant. If there are some cracks or breakage in the coolant reservoir because of old age or overheating, it will leak. Small leakages might produce steam and drips, while bigger leaks might produce streams and puddles, and also an obvious coolant odor.
3. Engine overheating - One more serious symptom of a bad or failing coolant reservoir is the overheating of the car engine. If there is any issue with the coolant reservoir which prevents it from correctly holding the coolant or even from pressurizing the system, it might cause the car engine to overheat.

To change coolant recovery tank or coolant hose you may need:

• Set of screwdriver
  
• Clip plier
• Set of basic socket wrench

Have a look at the top brands for car coolant recovery tank & parts which would offer safety and decline the risk of disappointment.

• Dorman (OE Solutions) Coolant Recovery Tank & Parts
• Cooling Depot Coolant Recovery Tank & Parts
• Blue Streak (Hygrade Motor) Coolant Recovery Tank & Parts 
• Motorad Coolant Recovery Tank & Parts
• Spectra Premium Industries Coolant Recovery Tank & Parts
• Dorman/Help Coolant Recovery Tank & Parts

Are you familiar with basic car coolant recovery tank related parts? If not, then have a look at some important components of the car coolant recovery tank:

• Coolant Reservoir - A particular amount of coolant is held by it.
• Radiator and Radiator Fan - The radiator collects hot coolant from the engine in its core, and the high-speed fan would help in cooling this coolant.
• Hoses or pipes - Coolant is circulated in different parts by connecting them with one another by them.
• Heater Hose - It helps in circulating coolant in the heater core to increase temperature in the cabin.
• Coolant Tank Cap - It does not allow the coolant to spill out and help in controlling the pressure in the system.
• Coolant Tank Level Sensor - It helps in providing information about coolant level in the tank.
• Thermostat - It is fitted in the engine block and it will open when the temperature reaches between 80 to 90-degree Celsius.
• Thermo Switch - It helps in giving a signal to the ECU to assist the radiator fan in operating.
• Radiator Fan - It helps in cooling coolant in the radiator.
• Clips and Clamps - This hardware is used to tighten hoses.
• Temperature Sensor - It is fitted on the engine block. It sends a signal of the temperature to the coolant temperature gauge.
• Coolant Temperature Gauge - It is fitted in the car inside the cluster and receives the signal from the temperature sensor.
• Antifreeze Fluids - It is mixed with coolant. It would not allow the car to overheat or the coolant to freeze.
• Water Pump - It is in the engine block and helps to circulate the coolant into the system.

More than any other failure in a car, there's almost nothing that's as heartbreaking as a completely damaged car coolant recovery tank and parts. Now when we talk about the replacement cost, it might vary depending upon car performance, labor cost, brand, etc. If the engine is cool, it takes about 20 minutes to change the tank or any hoses. The average cost for coolant reservoir replacement is between $162 and $178. The estimated labour costs would be between $58 and $74. The parts would be priced at $104. Please keep in mind that the cost of coolant recovery tanks and hoses can differ to the model of the car.

Have a look at the steps of changing coolant recovery tank & parts:

Step 1

Place the vehicle on level ground.

Step 2

Ensure the vehicle’s engine is cool, remove the coolant recovery tank cap slowly, depending on the type of vehicle as most vehicles have drain plug fitted at the lower end of the radiator, loosen the drain plug and collect the coolant in a pan.

Step 3

Remove the coolant tank by removing the screws or nuts, lift the coolant tank, disconnect the coolant hoses attached to it by clip pliers.

Step 4

Reverse the process to fit a new coolant tank, the same way coolant hoses can be replaced.

Step 5

If there are any leakages, do not repair coolant tank or coolant hoses, replace them immediately.