13 replies to this topic

[Javiagus]

Hello!
I have an Austin mini 998 with stage one and I was thinking to fit an extra tank for my coolant so it could run cooler. Does anybody do something like this?? I think that in this picture they do something I said. What is that little Broncs tank in left side?
Regards!

[Javiagus]

Here is the pic

[Javiagus]

Here is the pic
 image.jpeg   186.27K   83 downloads

[Spider]

Our Mokes have them standard (as did the Morris / Austin 1100 and 1800 series cars) and i fit them in to all my Mini's except those that are originals.

 

They really are a good idea and very helpful for prolonging the life of the cooling system. Can also 'cure' apparent overheating issues on some cars too.

[mab01uk]

Usually called an expansion tank (with a Min and Max level) as the level rises and falls with temperature......instead of pushing any coolant out the overflow when hot it is retained within the cooling system. A plain cap is usually fitted on the radiator and the pressure cap goes on the expansion tank if I remember correctly?

We also used to remove them from other BMC cars in the breakers yards like the BMC 1100/1300 and 1800. Later BL expansion tanks were made of plastic.

[hhhh]

A plain cap is usually fitted on the radiator and the pressure cap goes on the expansion tank if I remember correctly?

 

No, it's the opposite. The expansion tank is the last resort for when the pressure exceeds 13 lbs.

Edited by hhhh, 22 September 2015 - 02:17 PM.

[Spider]

 

A plain cap is usually fitted on the radiator and the pressure cap goes on the expansion tank if I remember correctly?

 

No, it's the opposite. The expansion tank is the last resort for when the pressure exceeds 13 lbs.

 

 

Bhaha,,,, this often causes some confusion and I'm not even sure if my terms below are correct.

 

A Header Tank set up is Pressurised and an Expansion or Over-flow Tank (like many modern cars have) are not.

 

So, for a Header tank Set-up, like the Mokes, 1100 and 1800 have, there is a Blanking Cap fitted to the Radiator and a Pressure Cap to the Header Tank.

 

Which is better?  I can't say I see any difference between either, the main point of the set up is to ensure at all times, no air gets in to the main cooling circuit ever.

Edited by Moke Spider, 22 September 2015 - 07:57 PM.

[A-Cell]

"So, for a Header tank Set-up, like the Mokes, 1100 and 1800 have, there is a Blanking Cap fitted to the Radiator and a Pressure Cap to the Header"
That's how my Moke is set up (Portuguese). Also fitted them that way on the rally minis I built in the late 60'
Also plastic ones fitted on A series Allegros.

[hhhh]

Hmm... the "header tank" setup is really just a standard system with slightly extended capacity. I've never heard of that setup. I think it would be appropriate in cases where you knew you needed just a little extra capacity and wouldn't exceed 13 lbs. The expansion tank setup seems to me to be more adaptable to a wider range of conditions since when the pressure exceeds the rad cap's rating, the expansion tank receives what would normally be lost and returns it to the rad as the temperature comes down. If a header tank setup exceeds the rad cap pressure, you're sort of back to square one with the same symptoms of having no extra tank.

 

If you're going the header tank route, you'll want to have good hose clamps on the little line going to it or the hoses won't stay on long.

Edited by hhhh, 23 September 2015 - 03:18 AM.

[Spider]

I have never run with an expansion tank set up so I don't have any experience with them (although it's likely the BVs have them, I wouldn't know), however, I aware they do need a more fancy and sometimes harder to come (one that fits is just about obscure in these parts) by cap, that has a double seal, one that seals down the neck and the other at the top, viz

 

 

I've run with the header tank set up, as it is a factory arrangement, on all my Mokes for over the past 30 years and I also fit the same set up to my Minis (those that are not collectables at least) and I have to say, none have given me any issues over this time frame. Highly recommended.

[Spitz]

Referring to the OP

Is your 998 overheating?

You don't want to have it run too cool all the time...it needs to get up to a decent running temp.

If it's regularly going above "N", varify with another guage and/or run a cooler thermostate.

I usually run an 88 degree thermostat

[Javiagus]

I have an 998 and it's not running hot. But here in summer we usually have 35 °C and it gets a little hotter than "N"ormal. I installed an electric fan but I thought about putting an extra tank so I can have more coolant running

[Spitz]

We get up to 35 and hotter here as well....the thermostat ends up being open most of the time.  I always leave the heater valve open so the coolant is running through the heater matrix inside.  This helps cooling, but can get a bit warm inside the car.  An extra matrix under the hood would indeed help.

 

Unfortunately, we will soon be hitting -35....so the LBCs are soon to hibernate.

[peter-b]

We used to fit the under bonnet heater units but with no hot air hose into car, bit like extra radiator.