Radical SR-3 Coolant expansion tank

[teamlorenz]

I have an older SR3 without the expansion tank. I happen to have a new radical expansion tank and was thinking about adding it to the car. does anyone have a picture or diagram of how it is plumbed into the system?
also does it have to be higher than the radiator?

Thanks
Chris

[Atom Ant]

My RSX may be the same, is it one of these tanks? (sorry its sideways)

[teamlorenz]

thanks for the reply,
I have a tank like that but the one I am looking for is usually is a second tank with just a hose coming in the bottom.

I am not sure but maybe the RSX doesn't have a second expansion tank.

thanks
Chris

[Atom Ant]

That looks like the oil catch tank with the transparent level on the side not coolant. I’ll see if I can get a pic of mine

[Atom Ant]

This is the RSX oil catch tank

[MK3 Dan]

teamlorenz said:

thanks for the reply,
I have a tank like that but the one I am looking for is usually is a second tank with just a hose coming in the bottom.

I am not sure but maybe the RSX doesn't have a second expansion tank.

thanks
Chris

This is a water expansion bottle.

If you have a swirl pot like above with the black cap then you do not need this - and there is no facility for it.

If you have an earlier tank with the smaller rad cap on then you would connect this tank to the overflow fitting that is either open or has a pipe that leads down through your diffuser to the floor.

[teamlorenz]

Thanks everyone for the help.
I think I should give the back story first so you guys can see my thinking which may be complete wrong.

The is a 2004 SR-3 and I took it out for the first time last month. I checked all the fluids and topped off the coolant to the top of the swirl pot. everything worked pretty good but after I ran it the last outting I noticed a fairly good size coolant puddle on the ground. maybe 2-3 cups worth (.5 liter)

I came home cleaned off the engine area and looked for leaks.
then I notice it was coming out the swirl pot overflow hose.
(My car does not have an expansion tank.)

My first thought was it must be a bad radiator cap with is not keeping in the right amount of pressure or a bad seal.
I looked at the cap and it seems fine. I then thought since water expands when hot maybe I should not have filled it all the way to the top and what cam out is the extra coolant that I added.

I happen to have a expansion tank from a newer SR-3 and was going to add that. I do have a over size radiator so does it need to be higher than the radiator?
if you keep the pressure cap on the swirl pot how does the coolant flow back into the system from the expansion tank?

picture show where I am thinking about putting the tank.

Thanks for the help
Chris Lorenz

[teamlorenz]

yesterday before I really starting thinking about this I made an overflow tank and mounter it in the back of the car.
this would work fine for an over flow tank but I am not sure as an expansion tank as it is lower that the radiator.
I can redo the hose to to this tank and have it come in the bottom so it acts as a expansion thanks but I don't know if it would work since it is mounted low.

maybe it would since there would be suction if I seal it up.

Thanks
Chris