VW sphere/globe coolant expansion tank

[lloydy]

Is anyone using one on a TDI conversion? If so, how does it pipe in to the existing coolant pipes?

[max and caddy]

I would be inclined to keep the proper tank due to the large coolant volume, it will most likely blurt out of a golf type tank when hot then level will be low when cool..

[lloydy]

oh right, the americans seem to use them a lot, maybe they use a bigger version? Would like to get rid, or move the overflow tank at some stage to free up some space

[ninja.turtle007]

I would be inclined to keep the proper tank due to the large coolant volume, it will most likely blurt out of a golf type tank when hot then level will be low when cool..

I was told something similar by the people who installed my TDI.

[max and caddy]

The t5 tank is bigger....but it still hasno where near the 14 litres or summat of coolant a t3 has....I would say it would be un wise experiment to be honest....what's your views on magnaflow filters by the way?

[Oldiebut goodie]

Expansion is around 200ml for our systems at normal working temps. I will be keeping the current system when I fit my 1Y otherwise with the fish bowl it will lose that amount and then have a lot lower reserve amount in. (I don't know what the capacity of those round ones are but they don't look as though they will hold as much as the two tank - one brimmed and one at minimum)

[lloydy]

The t5 tank is bigger....but it still hasno where near the 14 litres or summat of coolant a t3 has....I would say it would be un wise experiment to be honest....what's your views on magnaflow filters by the way?

Magnaflows are good, they won't cure a blocked system or make a partially blocked system work better. But they do get rid of any crap floating around in the system. It's a good thing to fit when a new boiler is installed (fitted on return next to boiler) it'll stop any crap getting in the new boiler

[lloydy]

Cheers for the info on tanks, I might have a look at moving the overflow tank elsewhere.
I've put a post on thesamba, just to ask what their experiences are.

[DentedDevon]

I have used the Golf goldfish bowl header tank on my V8 conversion , Its cooling system holds 18 litres in total.
The little goldfish bowl seems supprisingly big when you put it in the engine bay !
I fill the tank to the max line which is slightly under 1/2 full. When hot the level rises to a fraction over 1/2 full.
The coolant level sensor works fine with the T25 system.
The original 2 tank system just makes maintenance user friendly. The tank in the engine bay with the pressure cap provides a high point for filling after service / repairs. The expansion / top up tank behind the number plate means the owner can check and top up the coolant level easily, same as the oil.
If your conversion has room to retain the original tanks, do so. If not then a single tank will need expansion space and a level sensor to suit. (The original level sensor is quite short as that tank should always be full.)

[lloydy]

Thanks for the info, good to hear from someone using the one tank. Also good to hear the relatively small expansion of the water. I have been looking at the passat coolant tank, it is more pancake in shape and fits nicely in the corner of the engine bay. I have seen this fitted on one van in the flesh, and also seen a pic of it fitted to another van.
I'm looking into all this, as I am trying to get as much of the original passat set up that I can. I am going to fit the vw air filter box that bernd jaeger sells (adapted to inc dirt sep) and If I fit the passat coolant tank I'll fit the passat coolant pipe set up. Selling the Jx coolant pipes, aux water heater and K&N Apollo should cover the cost of this change over.
I'll also be fitting things like the passat fuel filter ect
Fitting the tdi air box will mean moving the battery to under the seat, but I'm not to bothered by that

[axeman]

as dented devon has said they work and work well. also no more darlic cap worries, i went through 3 when had my wbx set up. and i would happily convert the sally's van (jx engined van) to this system. as for checking the water level this is not really a problem as the water sensor lets you know if your low on water.

increasingly i was at the scrappy the other day and they had a t4, which i would say is about 25% larger than the golf one that i am using, having said that i have had no issues with the golf one.

neil

[lloydy]

Neil, where is a decent scrappy around here?
The T3 coolant system holds 10L more than the passat (6.5L cap) so it is more than twice the size. But still, anyone who uses this one tank system doesn't seem to have any problems. Using the passat coolant pipes will cut the volume down by a couple litres as well, due to some of the pipes being smaller

[axeman]

i could tell you where the scrappy is but then i would have to silence you!
personally i think that vw were just a paranoid about the cooling system when they were forced to design and fit the water cooled engines to the t3 and over thought the design,

neil

[ninja.turtle007]

Mine has an early T3 expansion tank without the additional tank. I supplied it. I have done 1000's of miles with no issues. But I don't have a battery tray to fix it to, so it doesn't look original. I'll be interested to see what you decide to do

[ninja.turtle007]

Tell me instead then Neil. I won't tell Lloyd!