Expansion Tank Split!

[stimpysaurus 0]

to start off i appologise if theres a million posts already about this, im at work and i dont have time to do a proper search

 

is there anything i can do today to patch up the split in the tank or would it be ok to run the car with it broken? im guessing not a good idea as it was shooting out coolant when i parked up this morning.

 

I've got the car booked in the garage on friday to do some tests to check the headgasket, would this be a symptom?

i dont no a great lot about engines (as you can probably tell) but would a headgasket failure put added pressure on the system causing weakspots to break? i cant really think how it could split without there being another problem causing it?

 

any ideas of what i should do short term? ie. getting home without completely buggering it!

[Anthony 1,003]

Headgasket failure can cause the cooling system to pressurise, and things to fail - heater matrixes are a usual one, and old hoses.

 

If it's cracked badly enough to be chucking coolant everywhere, then it needs replacing - a small hairline crack you might have been able to repair, but no point on a sizeable crack, especially when replacements are plentiful and cheap second hand (and quite reasonable new from Peugeot as well)

[GLPoomobile 958]

Firstly, I have to say that I'm bloody surprised that it's your expension tank that has split!

 

How big a split are we talking about here?

 

I'd personally say, if you have any way of leaving the car and making other arrangements until you can get a replacement tank, then DO IT!. Don't risk making things worse by trying to limp home. If you've got breakers yard nearby, get a 2nd hand one. If not, get to the nearest Pug or Citroen dealer and order one, as Anthony says, they are not expensive.

 

If you have to try and get it home, all I can suggest is trying to bandage the split. Use something like proper duct tape (that really tough silvery grey tape) and wrap it around the tank as tight as you can. Providing you can stop is pissing out, and at least get it down to just a small run or dribble, and providing you don't have to go more than a few miles, you might be able to make it home if you keep stopping to top up the level (obviously buy a few litres of water to take with you). But if the system is pressurising, then the duct tape might not be any good. It might seem OK to begin with, but might just give way once you get a few miles down te road and the syste pressurises.

 

So in summation, I would advice NOT risking it and leave the car until you can get a new tank.

[Baz 421]

I've had a few crack, they get old and brittle and fracture, so doesn't surprise me, particularly older round tanks.

[stimpysaurus 0]

Headgasket failure can cause the cooling system to pressurise, and things to fail - heater matrixes are a usual one, and old hoses.

both of those things have already happened and been replaced so thats probably why they are still intact now! and i dont want to change the bloody matrix again!

 

i had my suspisions yesterday when i noticed a pool of water under the car but it had been raining so i topped it up and drove home and then back to work again today so hopefully its not completely knackered already!

the crack is i think around 5mm in size sort of near the bottom where the plastic curves inwards so in a pretty awkward place to patch up securely.

 

if i can manage to get hold of a new tank is it an easy fix to swap them over or does it involve a bit more effort than im imagining? I might have to try and get someone to tow me home

[Baz 421]

Fairly easy/simple swap, you might just need a couple of hose clips, remove the hoses connected to it, then 2 10mm nuts secure the tank to the bulk head, and there's a 2pin plug to unplug.

[Baz 421]

What year is your car? I probably have a spare tank i'd happily send you.

[stimpysaurus 0]

What year is your car? I probably have a spare tank i'd happily send you.

its 1990 its the black phase 2. That'd be good thanks, the mechanic its going to has spare 205's so ill see if hes got anything i could get today but if i have no luck then i will let u know

 

do u not have to drain the coolant or anything? just take it off stick the new one on and top it up?

[Baz 421]

You'll lose some coolant yes, but only what's in the tank, not really that bad, just top up once it's changed.

 

I certainly have a spare Ph2 black one should you need too.

[GLPoomobile 958]

TBH there's only 2 things that would cause you hassle with replacing the tank, and they are one of those brute force type of struggles rather than a head scratching struggle. First is those damn hose clips that are sort of pressed in place - I f***ing hate those bastards - meaning you have to try and get a small flat balde screwdriver under the lip and force it open to release the clip, usualy resulting in a slip and a stab of the opposing hand . The second is if the hoses are stuck to the tank due to corrosion, so it'll be a case of tug, tug, tug, TUG, slip, hit the bonnet with your hands, fall on your arse, and have the bonnet come slamming down.

 

So be careful

[stimpysaurus 0]

So be careful

its ok I'll cover myself in bubblewrap or better still - make someone else do it!

 

i might be getting towed home but iv never done that before, is it a case of just steering and making sure i brake as to not crash into the back of the other car? i can see me doing something wrong and causing an accident

[Anthony 1,003]

i might be getting towed home but iv never done that before, is it a case of just steering and making sure i brake as to not crash into the back of the other car? i can see me doing something wrong and causing an accident

Is it on a rope or a hard bar?

 

Hard bar is easy - basically just steer and brake when the car in front brakes.

 

Rope is a bit harder, and is very much dependant on how experienced the driver of the car in front is when it comes to towing. You need to steer and brake as per the hard bar, but also try and keep the rope from going slack when the car in front is slowing down/stopping. The driver in front needs to know to take up the slack in the rope slowly, as just driving off as normal with a slack rope risks bending or ripping the front of your 205 off when the rope suddenly goes tight with your 205 stationary and the car in front doing 10-15mph - yes, it has happened before!

 

Oh, and if you've not got the engine running, remember that you'll have no servo assistance on the brakes - you'll need to press the pedal much harder than normal to stop the car.

[welshpug 1,657]

I really hate moving 205's by any means bar a trailer or under its own power having seen a few towing yes ripped off

[stimpysaurus 0]

ok i think its decided that the car is staying put! i couldnt risk damaging the poor thing anymore than it already is

Its not just down the road either, I live 12 miles away up and down hills and round bends on country roads

i can definitly see me braking it!

I'll just hope that its not burn out in the carpark tomomorw morning

[lagonda 42]

To minimise water loss, simply take the "radiator" cap off the expansion tank. This will stop the system pressurising & lessen water loss substantially.

 

Regarding towing on a rope .... without the engine running, you would need to press the pedal VERY HARD to just slow the car. Safer if it has to be done is to arrange to be towed slowly & rely on handbrake as much as footbrake. Next time car's running OK, turn engine off while going downhill with clear road ahead, & try the brakes a few times....once the servo reserve vacuum has gone, you'll be amazed at how much effort you need to slow the car at all.

[SurGie 54]

You'll lose some coolant yes, but only what's in the tank, not really that bad, just top up once it's changed.

 

I not keen on topping the coolant up TBH, mixing different types/makes of anti-freeze don't do your engine any good,

however as you will be getting a new head gasket fitted then it would be ok if topped up

with just water.

Edited July 31, 2009 by SurGie

[Baz 421]

I not keen on topping the coolant up TBH, mixing different types/makes of anti-freeze don't do your engine any good,

however as you will be getting a new head gasket fitted then it would be ok if topped up

with just water.

 

wtf?

 

just top it up with water then, if you're that anal and would rather have rusty bores, or no water at all in fear of mixed coolant...

[stimpysaurus 0]

I not keen on topping the coolant up TBH, mixing different types/makes of anti-freeze don't do your engine any good,

however as you will be getting a new head gasket fitted then it would be ok if topped up

with just water.

wtf?

 

just top it up with water then, if you're that anal and would rather have rusty bores, or no water at all in fear of mixed coolant...

LOL dont worry iv got plenty of antifreeze so it will be topped up with the same stuff as always

 

i finally got sorted ok, the mechanic lent me his own expansion tank off his rally car so that i could get it home. I even managed to change them over on my own in the carpark and without any blokes askin if i was pouring water into the oil this time!

 

I did however somehow manage to snap one of the bonet hinges so i guess that will need drilled or something? (and everything was going so well)

 

it turns out that the headgasket is to blame, he recons around £300 to do it properly does that sound about right? not that i can afford to do it anyway at the minute so im back on the hunt for a corsa oil pump.

i will someday have at least one car which works

 

thanks for all the help everyone

Lianne