Replacing the Coolant expansion tank with something less shitty.

**4A Play** · 07-19-2008 03:49 PM

I tried to quickly search and didn't find anything regarding replacing the expasion tank with maybe a stainless catch can or a $20 Summit catch can:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

1.5qts with sight tube.

Has anyone ever done this before? Im tired of cleaning mine everytime I detail the engine bay

Thoughts?

**urban96** · 07-19-2008 08:43 PM

you would still need a way to fill your coolant system

**Ewok_Fetus** · 07-19-2008 09:21 PM

Just find a black b6 one... I did...

**Militant-Grunt** · 07-19-2008 10:18 PM

Then you got to figure out a way around the coolant sensor in the expansion tank.

**Stampy** · 07-20-2008 03:17 AM

ummm never had any issues with the 3 audi's I've had. They are usually pretty clean

**CycloSteve** · 07-20-2008 06:10 AM

Only problem I had with the 2.8 was aging cracks, thus needed to be replaced. Didn't leak, but why wait until it goes pop? ...love how nice the new one looks without the orange-aged look. Get the B6 version if you want a dark one, it does look pretty nice.

**Ewok_Fetus** · 07-20-2008 08:25 AM

The B6 ones cannot be bought new and they were a 2002/2003 part only...

**urban96** · 07-20-2008 10:46 AM

what did they change in 98 on the expansion tanks? would i be able to use a newer 99-01 or a b6 tank&cap on my 97?

**4A Play** · 07-20-2008 01:24 PM

Filling it would be easy, just tap the can and put a little ball valve in from homedepot on the top of the tank.

Ill start looking for a B6 one though. Thanks guys!

**Ewok_Fetus** · 07-20-2008 03:44 PM

Don't forget, the cap for the tank is also a pressure relese valve... I would honestly just leave the thing alone or find a black one or new clear one like I stated before... You could end up blowing hoses and overheating/overcooling if you don't have the proper relief in the system...

**pac1085** · 07-20-2008 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by urban96

what did they change in 98 on the expansion tanks? would i be able to use a newer 99-01 or a b6 tank&cap on my 97?

the coolant level sensor uses a differentt type of clip on the later ones

**slayerrule** · 07-20-2008 04:04 PM

just get a new b6 one for 20 bucks and be done with it

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...E0%20121%20403

**audiluxary** · 07-20-2008 06:11 PM

Are you sure you don't have somthing wrong with your car? I had a 98 A6 and my coolant was mixing with my oil a little bit and every time it came back into my resevoir it was kind of foamy, that sucked. It made my resevoir look nasty as hell. My A4 I have has a new clear white resevior with pretty pink coolant, just flush your coolant on a regular and it will look clean, I prefer a white tank with bright pink fluid instead of the dark tank but that is just my opinion.

**Ewok_Fetus** · 07-20-2008 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by slayerrule

just get a new b6 one for 20 bucks and be done with it

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...E0%20121%20403

If you are going to get a new clear tank then just get the B5 one... The B6 has tabs in the back that need to be filed down and also you need to drill holes for the attachment screws... The B6 tank needs some modification to it to fit a B5... Here is a gray B6 tank on my car... Mine was brown, not orange or anything, but brown... Like a big turd...