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Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:54 am
by widdowson2008
haydn callow wrote:I do know that if the pipe was not there the coolant alarm sensor would not work in the position we now fit it.
Probably agree with that Haydn, but the query here is 'what does the small pipe actually do'? What's it for?

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:04 am
by haydn callow
Well !! one thing it does do is allow coolant to flow "through" the ex tank......thus allowing it to be a degassing tank....perhaps that is all it is there for......

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:09 am
by widdowson2008
jaylee wrote:Does it allow trapped air in the heater matrix's exit the system during bleeding...? & when running some sort of pressurized equilibrium in the header tank, so when cold on a relatively healthy system coolant levels can be checked more accurately??
Maybe i worded that wrong..! :oops: Just avin a crack at a guess.. :!: :wink:
Reckon you are right there. Sounds logical to me.

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:13 am
by widdowson2008
haydn callow wrote:Well !! one thing it does do is allow coolant to flow "through" the ex tank......thus allowing it to be a degassing tank....perhaps that is all it is there for......
That's a thought. Could the reason for the small diameter exit pipe be to DELIBERATLY slow down the flow through the tank to allow more time for the tank to de-gas?
We know that any air in the system HAS to go through the head, main radiator and expansion tank (because of flow direction), so to slow the flow at this position to allow air more time to escape makes total sense.

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:51 am
by jaylee
One question... Why would the word "booster" be written on the front of the header tank...?

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:26 am
by widdowson2008
jaylee wrote:One question... Why would the word "booster" be written on the front of the header tank...?
'Booster'? Where's that then?

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:34 am
by haydn callow
not on any of the half dozen I have.....is it just a sticker ??

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:44 am
by jaylee
widdowson2008 wrote:
jaylee wrote:One question... Why would the word "booster" be written on the front of the header tank...?
'Booster'? Where's that then?
After a massive service early last year... "booster" was written in black marker pen on my header..? Now i currently have a P reg metallic light greenaft 2.5 derv 4x4 on my drive.. :oops: on loan while a well known Bongo garage in my local takes care of the fuel pump seal leak... (I just couldn't be arsed after looking up the subject.) looking the P reg over... "booster" same place same handwriting!! :? :?

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:05 pm
by widdowson2008
Can't you ask the garage what 'booster' signifies? I'd be interested for one.
Perhaps it may mean that the coolant mix has been strenghened by topping up with antifreeze :roll: .
See if you can find out. :wink:

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:10 pm
by missfixit70
jaylee wrote:
widdowson2008 wrote:
jaylee wrote:One question... Why would the word "booster" be written on the front of the header tank...?
'Booster'? Where's that then?
After a massive service early last year... "booster" was written in black marker pen on my header..? Now i currently have a P reg metallic light greenaft 2.5 derv 4x4 on my drive.. :oops: on loan while a well known Bongo garage in my local takes care of the fuel pump seal leak... (I just couldn't be arsed after looking up the subject.) looking the P reg over... "booster" same place same handwriting!! :? :?
Have they both got Mason alarm mod mebe?

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:13 pm
by widdowson2008
What's the connection between Mason alarm and Booster?

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:15 pm
by missfixit70
Just trying to think outside the box, certain garages have been known to s**t themselves when the temp gauge rises, not knowing theres a mason mod on the gauge, "booster" may be what they call it? written on the header so they know not to panic? Especially when sometimes the owners themselves don't know what they've got? Just a thought :wink:

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:17 pm
by jaylee
They just rang me.. My van is done. :D I will ask, then report back! :wink:
widdowson2008 wrote:Can't you ask the garage what 'booster' signifies? I'd be interested for one.
Perhaps it may mean that the coolant mix has been strenghened by topping up with antifreeze :roll: .
See if you can find out. :wink:
[-X :lol: :lol: Seriously... :!: They got a good rep!

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:21 pm
by jaylee
No Mason on this P reg loaner Kirsty... But yer right though, they do freak at the Mason reading! :wink:

Re: Pipe - expansion tank to heater circuit return

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 3:11 pm
by jaylee
OK, first off it was an R reg... :roll: This brief dalliance with this Younger fresh mint green hussy meant nothing... =; I still love my van!! 8) 8)

Back to the mystery of the "boost"..... (Which will probably start a debate all on its own.) :roll: :wink:

From what i gather, the antifreeze/coolant mixture they use (pink stuff) has an additive that gives it a higher boiling point (If that's possible?) so if it an over heating episode happened "it give you a bit more time to pull over".
I can kind of see a logic in this.. The un-modded gauge don't move until its too late & by that time its boiled & built up too much pressure??? ( I hope thas right?) Well... Unless a leak has occurred, & i guess its cooling on the tarmac.

"boost" just a bit more permanent than a post-it note! 8)