Coolant Reservoir, Maintenance Item?

[Passport1]

Just replaced the degas coolant reservoir on my elderly Saab. The hose nipples are known to crack and blow coolant. Some reservoirs are prone to leak at the seam where the halves are joined. I prefer to be proactive.

Do any of you replace yours as a routine maintenance item?

 

[nomas]

Nope .

 

[johnmyster]

I did on our older diesel truck, seeing as it was going to be our out-of-town family vacation rv puller, and I was doing all the other hoses (coolant, fuel, and hydraulic) at the same time.

If you don't do it now, how much longer are you planning to keep it? How much longer do you anticipate being able to find/buy a new tank for a saab 9-3?

 

[JeffKeryk]

I warsh it out as part of the service.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Just replaced the degas coolant reservoir on my elderly Saab. The hose nipples are known to crack and blow coolant. Some reservoirs are prone to leak at the seam where the halves are joined. I prefer to be proactive.

Do any of you replace yours as a routine maintenance item?

I'm watching it on my BMW but that's normal.

 

[JRay’07]

I replaced my Saab's coolant reservoir when the level sensor began to malfunction. It looked fine otherwise.

 

[Donald]

Just replaced the degas coolant reservoir on my elderly Saab. The hose nipples are known to crack and blow coolant. Some reservoirs are prone to leak at the seam where the halves are joined. I prefer to be proactive.

Do any of you replace yours as a routine maintenance item?

I have taken it out, emptied it, poured in Dawn and water and shaken it. Gotten it clean.

 

[eljefino]

I've cleaned them with Cascade, once removed from the car, when they've had oil mixed in due to cracked heads.

Saturns are real cheap cars but they reinforced their degas bottles with metal inserts in the nipples. If someone's doing them as a "maintenance item" they were engineered just a little too cheaply.

I will concede, a new one really dresses up the engine compartment. If done with an antifreeze changeout the coolant's color really "pops", and better than simply power-washing the old one. The plastic seems to yellow and become less transparent. My 08 Silverado needed one, and on the same summer that the plastic wye in the heater circuit snapped by looking at it wrong. So, yeah, cheap.

 

[D60]

On the older Ford cute-utes like early 2000's Escapes they crack ALL THE TIME.

If Dorman makes a replacement ‐- as with the above-mentioned -- it's probably a common problem.

 

[FatOrangeCat]

We replaced the reservoir on the Jetta. Inside was stained and terrible looking, so it was done for cosmetic reasons only.

 

[BHopkins]

Not as part of a proactive PM, but I have replaced them when they start getting questionable.

I have had to replace the coolant reservoir in the Alero I used to drive. And I had to replace the reservoir in my motor home. But judging from the quality of it, I don't anticipate ever replacing the reservoir in my Mercedes. The Outback reservoir looks pretty average, but going on 12 years, it is in good shape.

 

[amblerman]

the reservoir in my 99 Volvo s70 looked liked it was covered in fine spider web like cracks. I replaced it just in case those cracks were letting some of my coolant vanish. The coolant level seems to have stabilized with the new reservoir

 

[PF52]

I replaced the one in my Fiero because the old one liked to leak a little - drip, drip, drip on occasion. Now I'm keeping a close eye on the new one which being an aftermarket item may or may not be any better.

I replaced the tank in my elderly parents' Impala because years ago my Dad topped it off with regular green antifreeze and it filled the tank with brown sludge. I could never tell what the actual coolant level was in it (it was even hard to tell by looking in through the cap because of the funny angle) so I decided to pop for a new one. Sure does look nice and I can see the coolant level so easy now.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

On my BMWs, I always did. My F150 I just replaced it along with silicone radiator hoses. After 23 years I figured it was due. Looks nicer but probably didn't really need it.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

It depends on the car. Common failure on Chevy Cruze, so I changed them with any other coolant failure or about every 80,000 miles. On these, I believe the Dorman had a cap with a non-OE thread.

Never changed it on my 160k ‘15 F-150, but I will if I have to drain the coolant.

 

[paulo57509]

The only maintenance I do to the reservoir is rinse/clean the inside (as needed) when replacing the coolant.

1. Remove reservoir.
2. Rinse out the inside with clear water.
3. Put a few drops of dish soap (Dawn).
4. Pour in some uncooked rice (ex. Kokuho Rose).
5. Fill reservoir with water.
6. Shake the reservoir, allow the rice to scrub the inside.
7. Pour out the liquid - repeat 5-7 as needed.
8. Discard the rice.
9. Rinse well.
10. Install reservoir.

 

[macarose]

I used to do it on the random 3rd gen Toyota Camrys I owned over the years.

So easy to do. My little hangup was knowing the exact level of the coolant. If I couldn't clean it, I washed it.

I still think that clear visibility of all your fluid levels is an excellent formula for longevity.

 

[Donald]

We replaced the reservoir on the Jetta. Inside was stained and terrible looking, so it was done for cosmetic reasons only.

Were you selling it or just wanted a clean looking engine bay?

 

[zzyzzx]

Not as part of a proactive PM, but I have replaced them when they start getting questionable.

I have had to replace the coolant reservoir in the Alero I used to drive. And I had to replace the reservoir in my motor home. But judging from the quality of it, I don't anticipate ever replacing the reservoir in my Mercedes. The Outback reservoir looks pretty average, but going on 12 years, it is in good shape.

What happened to the one in the Alero?

 

[zzyzzx]

Were you selling it or just wanted a clean looking engine bay?

I would assume that they wanted to check the level without having to remove the cap.