Coolant Overflow Catch Can (small version)

[ERA Chas]

Here is the part-why not get a big-boy part rather than your usual kitchen table specials?
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mor-63657/overview/
Without going through 10,000 pics I can show you where it lives. It's a batch to photo because of location but here, you can just see the black body with band clamp peeking out. Right past where the overflow pipe leaves the tank. That hose connects to it:

[Large Arbor]

Ok, I am completely confused here. Why is an overflow bottle needed? If the intent is to save cats, ok, save cats. I can't ever recall seeing any antifreeze or water on the floor after a hard run. Oil yes, water or antifreeze, not a drop. So what is the intended purpose?

Phil

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Ok, I am completely confused here. Why is an overflow bottle needed? If the intent is to save cats, ok, save cats. I can't ever recall seeing any antifreeze or water on the floor after a hard run. Oil yes, water or antifreeze, not a drop. So what is the intended purpose?

Phil

The purpose of overflow tanks on 427's and 289's is to allow for fluid expansion. When the car is driven, especially on hot days, then shut off, the coolant's temp rises with heat soak. If it's just water, at 212 it boils-bit higher with coolant. Radiator caps rated 16-20 pounds pressurize the system so the boiling points are a bit higher. Boiling=expansion; that's why the tanks are there. If the expanded fluid fills the tank, it runs out the thoughtfully provided overflow tube-onto the ground.
Race sanction bodies only permit water and prohibit you from putting any on the surface.
That's what the overflow bottles prevent.
Pet owners have found a new use for the...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Ok, I am completely confused here. Why is an overflow bottle needed? If the intent is to save cats, ok, save cats. I can't ever recall seeing any antifreeze or water on the floor after a hard run. Oil yes, water or antifreeze, not a drop. So what is the intended purpose?

Phil, first a note on what this is not. It is not a coolant recovery system. I do not have a coolant recovery style radiator cap, so it would not suck the coolant back in the system even if the volume of the bottle was large enough to support a recovery. Second, the first time you change out your coolant you will undoubtedly over-fill your surge tank a bit. Then, periodically, you will have a little coolant overflow (you would only notice it if it occurred in your garage). More coolant comes out at the beginning, less each time after that, eventually none at all. My "sprinkles bottle" system is mainly there to protect my pets, as my children no longer lick concrete floors. Finally, most tracks require some sort of coolant catch can (like the nice Moroso can Chas posted, not my little bottle). This is because of the dangers of fluids on the track itself. The harder you run your engine, the hotter it will become, and the likelihood of a spritz of coolant will increase. We don't need Rick Lake going in to a corner at 140MPH and hitting patrickt's puddle of Prestone.

[ACademic]

Originally Posted by patrickt

...as my children no longer lick concrete floors.

That explains SOOOOO much. Priceless.

[patrickt]

Large Arbor, as another continuing courtesy to the Cobra community, and so you can visualize the answer better, I cleaned out the sprinkles bottle and took her for a run this afternoon. It's in the low 80's and I kept the revs up high so I had a nice heat soak when I pulled back in the garage. The temperature on the gauge went to 95C in the garage. Here is what she spit out (it's fairly typical for my engine):

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

...and I kept the revs up high so I had a nice heat soak when I pulled back in the garage.

Wow!-must have pushed the tell-tale needle to 3200 huh??

[FWB]

just to catch any overflow....and according to chas it has medicinal qualities for any nasty roids you may have from over litigating a donkey fart

[twobjshelbys]

Ha Ha! I used a diet coke bottle tie wrapped to the frame and dumped the overflow tube into it. It was just like the expansion tank on a regular car - it would get some in it, but it would get sucked back in. I had more orphan bolts and nuts on the garage floor than coolant.

[Jamo]

The catch cans are required for any track use as well. Newbies always generate all kinds of last minute ideas when they get to the track and find out.

[Large Arbor]

Thanks for the education. I get it now. What can I say, but I am a newbie. I have not tracker mine yet and even when its been the hottest, it tops out at 200. I have not seen it get above that even when shutting it down after a hard run. I do open the hood to let it cool easier.

I am running with antifreeze due to last years bitter cold and a limited portable heater in the garage.

Phil

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Thanks for the education. I get it now. What can I say, but I am a newbie. I have not tracker mine yet and even when its been the hottest, it tops out at 200. I have not seen it get above that even when shutting it down after a hard run. I do open the hood to let it cool easier.

The learning process is half the fun. Just remember that FEs are a little funny. Jamo, Chas, RodKnock and I have them in our Cobras. I'm not sure what ACademic has in his (actually, I'm not even sure he has a Cobra). Experience is really the best teacher though on FEs. The really old guys that used to work in the dealerships back in the 60's are over on the FE Forum, and their advice is worth its weight in gold.

[Large Arbor]

Yes, I read the FE forum often. I can always learn. Now if we only had a forum on how to change a stub axle seal. That's the next project on my list. My FE is below. I have an overflow tube that drains out the bottom. I have not seen any antifreeze or water on the ground.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Yes, I read the FE forum often. I can always learn. Now if we only had a forum on how to change a stub axle seal. That's the next project on my list. My FE is below. I have an overflow tube that drains out the bottom. I have not seen any antifreeze or water on the ground.

Very nice. The PITA with FEs and coolant is when you flush and fill you always get an air bubble or two. There's a lot of threads on here and the FE Forum that give different tricks on eliminating them, but it's still a PITA. Then when you fill up the radiator and, maybe, half fill the expansion tank, it takes a while for the air bubbles to work out and the coolant level to sort itself out by squirting out the overflow tube. By the time you get it just right, it's time to flush and fill again.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The PITA with FEs and coolant is when you flush and fill you always get an air bubble or two.

Not when you open the block drains then fill through the temp sender and the overflow tank. Each is on opposite sides of the thermostat.

[Large Arbor]

Pat,

How often do you flush and fill? Once a year? I plan to do that this fall as it has not been done yet.

Phil

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Pat,

How often do you flush and fill? Once a year? I plan to do that this fall as it has not been done yet.

Phil

Every two seasons as a maximum. Three is adequate. Watching the condition of the hoses is more important.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Every two seasons as a maximum. Three is adequate. Watching the condition of the hoses is more important.

I agree with that... and I don't have the little block drain petcocks. I have to do it the old fashioned way..... But I do crack the temp sensor to let air out of the manifold. Regardless, it's a PITA no matter what way you cut it.

[patrickt]

... and I use a 50/50 mix of distilled water and AutoZone Conventional Green Antifreeze.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

But I do crack the temp sensor to let air out of the manifold.

You should fill the block there, not just burp the system. That and the tank are the highest parts of the system.
Nothing should be a PITA for you-you have a lift. Petcocks are pennies and even you couldn't fudge-up installing them.