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Getting Your Honda Accord Radiator Overflow Tank Fixed
Also known as coolant reservoir tank or coolant overflow tank, the radiator overflow tank functions as storage space for the coolant once it heats up and starts expanding. It helps prevent ground contamination and allows the coolant to absorb heat faster, too. Without an overflow tank in your vehicle, the heated coolant tends to flow out of the radiator and onto the ground. Its failure could affect the performance of your engine or your radiator. The following are some issues that drivers encounter with their Honda Accord radiator overflow tank:
Cracks
Coolant overflow tanks are usually made of plastic. They get punctured and cracked, which causes leaks. Eventually, the cooling system loses a significant amount of coolant, which then leads to engine overheating. These cracks can be fixed with silicone glue or epoxy. Make sure you drain the tank before removing the bolts or screws. Once you have taken out the tank, check for remaining coolant that might not have been removed earlier and dump it. Don't forget to clean every area of the overflow tank before applying silicone glue or epoxy. Then, allow it to dry properly. If the damage is already beyond repair, don't think twice about replacing your radiator overflow tank.
Boiling coolant
As the coolant runs into the radiator overflow tank, air bubbles are removed. The absence of these bubbles allows the coolant to absorb heat more quickly. However, too much water in the coolant mixture would cause it to boil, which is most likely due to a plugged radiator. To verify the problem, you can test the radiator by feeling the upper hose for cold spots. These cold spots are sure indicators that the radiator is plugged. In this case, you need to flush out the coolant.
Tank keeps going empty
If your radiator overflow tank keeps going empty despite adequately filling it up, you should consider doing a leak-down test. Simply fill your radiator to the brim. If bubbles form once you pressurize the cylinder, a leak may be causing your tank to go empty. Also, you may try putting UV dye in your coolant to easily spot where the leak is coming from. However, if you see no leaks along the lines, you might have to check inside your block. Inspect the head gasket if it is worn out or blown.
