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Dirty water header tank
https://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=7911		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  rav [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Dirty water header tank
I noticed that i cant see the water level in the header tank on my car anymore.
the tank itself has a brownish colour to it now and the water level cant be seen through it.

I was recently looking at some superb pictures on Rennlist and i noticed they have sparkling white tanks.

Does anyone know a way of cleaning these tanks?

Rav
Author:  Scottish944 [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/944M/POR_944M_WATrad_pg2.htm#item5


:D
Author:  ben944 [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
Hi,

Mine was exactly the same as yours. So brown that you couldn't even see the coolant level till you took the cap off.

The coolant tank eventually split so I got a replacement from OPC Leeds. It was around £50 which compared well to other part suppliers. You need a slightly different tank though with yours being a turbo. You have a an port attached to the header tank. It took me aroung 30 mins to change the tank. Here's my original post:

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5656

Ben :bounce:
Author:  AlpineTurbo [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
According to some people the tanks quickly yellow off again after a while.
Author:  lightning [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
There is a way to clean the sediment from the inside of a tank like this, what you do is remove it from the car and fill it half full with hot water plus some detergent, then put a handful of small nuts into the tank (as in nut and bolt of course!). Seal the holes in the tank so the water does not come out, then shake the tank for a while and the nuts will swill around, removing the brown sediment. Try it...it works!
Author:  tr7v8 [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
lightning wrote:
There is a way to clean the sediment from the inside of a tank like this, what you do is remove it from the car and fill it half full with hot water plus some detergent, then put a handful of small nuts into the tank (as in nut and bolt of course!). Seal the holes in the tank so the water does not come out, then shake the tank for a while and the nuts will swill around, removing the brown sediment. Try it...it works!

Yup washing machine powder or dishwasher detergent. I've heard it rumoured that the dishwasher top shelf works very well & for ali parts, but I'd never do things like that :mrgreen:
Author:  J.J. [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
Bought a new one for mine from the states. But there about the same price as OPC now :( If you go this route you also need to replace the brake reservoir or it looks terrible! Still looks new after 3 years of use. And it is good to see how much coolant you have without taking the cap off.

edit. Only paid £20 for mine but they've gone up a bit!!!
Author:  JW590 [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
If you're going to use washing powder make sure it's biological (ask your wife / girlfriend / boyfriend) as it will probably work better. I'm going to do mine at the weekend now just to prove a theory right or wrong.

Top tip - if you sprinkle biological washing powder on an oil stain on your driveway, leave it to get rained on, when it dries the stain is gone. An old man told me that, and it wasn't Paul Daniels, but it works - although our close has a brick road and brick driveways, so cannot vouch for tarmac. It's also useful for scrubbing the patio and the railway sleepers in the garden to get all the green stuff off after winter, etc etc.

All these suggestions (meaning the whole thread) are better and cheaper than buying a new one.
Author:  rav [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
Of course taking the tank off would mean having to re-fill the system with coolant.
I have heard that bleeding air from the system is a massive job in its self.

Im technically inept when it comes to mechanicals. Electricals on the other hand are my bread and butter.
Author:  tr7v8 [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
I've only refilled mine once since I've had it but no problem. Top it up, start it, loosen & remove the various bleed screws, when the coolant runs free screw back in.
Author:  watchcam [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
How much do you charge per hour? My 928 is electrically inept!
Author:  lindsayhbrown [ Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
looks to me like you are pretty handy at cleaning, that engine bay is spotless
Author:  rav [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 7:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
Lyndsayhbrown - that picture is shamlessly stolen......mine is the colour of mud!

Watchcam - Start a new thread and let me know - I am happy to help!
Author:  madrob6 [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
I took mine off and did the old washing powder trick but it hardly made any difference. Perhaps I was using the wrong stuff or didn't wait long enough but there are big chunks of muck on the inside of mine making it pretty much impossible to see the coolant level.

I think I'll try taking it off again this weekend and see what else I can do with it. Will also give me a good excuse for flushing out the coolant and putting some fresh stuff in there.

ETA: This link has a few interesting suggestions
Author:  David924S [ Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dirty water header tank
I would not have thought you would lose much water from the actual system it is only the header tank so unlikely to need much more than a top up. I can recommend as a cleaner when left overnight either dishwasher powder usually the cheaper the better or a couple of Sterident tablets (the false teeth cleaner) It always works on my teapot.
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