coolant

R

Rudy10thsvt

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#1

• Sep 28, 2025

• #1

Hi all, I have an 88 gt with aluminum radiator(dont know the brand) and elec contour fan with one of those popular SVE coolant expansion tank, the skinny bottle shape one.
my problem is when my engine warms up and I take it for a 25 minutes drive, and my coolant starts circulating, it would damp coolant to my expansion tank which everyone is saying normal. coolant heats up it expand and radiator cap opens up to damp coolant to reservoir. but my experience is, it damps alot of coolant to reservoir and some of the coolant would vent out of the tank. and when the engine cools down overnight it would suck the coolant back from the tank. But since some of the coolant was vent out of the tank, the tank now would be empty. is that mean the tank is too small for my car?

 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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#2

• Sep 28, 2025

• #2

Yes..,

 

Noobz347

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#3

• Sep 28, 2025

• #3

It's sounds to me like you could have additional issues.


Can you describe any maintenance you've done since this began?


Your favorite parts store should have a test kit that is something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Head-Gasket-Tester-Kit-Combustion/dp/B0F1GFD9HK/ref=sr_1_3?sr=8-3

It tests the coolant for combustion gasses. If positive, you have a head gasket leak which would be consistent with a constantly overflowing reserve tank.

 

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nickyb

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever

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#4

• Sep 28, 2025

• #4

After you test your coolant ,if you still have the original overflow tank put it in and see what happens.

 

JD1964

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

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#5

• Sep 29, 2025

• #5

nickyb said:

After you test your coolant ,if you still have the original overflow tank put it in and see what happens.

Click to expand...

Trouble with this might be the factory overflow tank is molded to fit onto the factory fan shroud. The op stated he has the Contour dual electric fan setup. The factory overflow tank is not a simple bolt on anymore considering the factory shroud is no longer there.

I have the Contour dual fans on my 92 and I had the same problem running the aftermarket narrow cylinder overflow tank. It was too low capacity to hold the overflow in all circumstances. Since my car has the battery mounted in the back, I had space in the factory battery tray area. In that area I mounted a larger capacity universal overflow bottle. It solved my problem of inadequate overflow capacity.

 

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JD1964

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

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#6

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• #6

The universal overflow I used is Dorman 54002. You can google that and get it various places

 

F

fasterthangas

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#7

• Sep 29, 2025

• #7

JD1964 said:

The universal overflow I used is Dorman 54002. You can google that and get it various places

Click to expand...

I use the same bottle. I have it mounted inside the driver's fender as far forward as I could get it.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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#8

• Sep 29, 2025

• #8

I have the same problem. It's pretty common with this tank which is just a generic China-made tank (available on Amazon) The coolant tank is too small, especially if you have a 3-core radiator. I'm regularly puking fluid and then topping off.

Needs a larger tank

 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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#9

• Sep 30, 2025

• #9

I have a bracket the uses the stock overflow tank and keeps it in the stock location. I'll get a pic when I get back there.

 

nickyb

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#10

• Sep 30, 2025

• #10

General karthief said:

I have a bracket the uses the stock overflow tank and keeps it in the stock location. I'll get a pic when I get back there.

Click to expand...

I also have the stock tank with my black magic fan.

 

Shakerhood

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#11

• Sep 30, 2025

• #11

You might be able to use an overflow tank from a 1994 or 1995, if memory serves me it was similar in size to the Fox but mounted more towards the passenger side.

 

R

Rudy10thsvt

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Oct 1, 2025

#12

• Oct 1, 2025

• #12

Mustang5L5 said:

I have the same problem. It's pretty common with this tank which is just a generic China-made tank (available on Amazon) The coolant tank is too small, especially if you have a 3-core radiator. I'm regularly puking fluid and then topping off.

Needs a larger tank

Click to expand...

that is what I think.

 

R

Rudy10thsvt

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Oct 1, 2025

#13

• Oct 1, 2025

• #13

General karthief said:

I have a bracket the uses the stock overflow tank and keeps it in the stock location. I'll get a pic when I get back there.

Click to expand...

would like to see your setup

 

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Noobz347

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#14

• Oct 1, 2025

• #14

Rudy10thsvt said:

would like to see your setup

Click to expand...

Woah there...


We just met.

 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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#15

• Oct 1, 2025

• #15

Rudy10thsvt said:

would like to see your setup

Click to expand...

The bracket was used with an aftermarket Black Majic electric fan, I have the stock fan and shroud now.

 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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#16

• Oct 1, 2025

• #16

It bolted to the drivers side of the radiator where the two bolts for the shroud on that side. Just a piece of thin metal bent on the ends and two slotted holes for a stock overflow tank.