How a Car Reservoir Tank Works

Water-Cooled Engines

The engine water-cooling system plays a critical role in the basic function and performance of your vehicle. Engines operate at an ideal running temperature that promotes optimal combustion and compression. In order to regulate a consistent temperature, the engine is forged with hollow passages (known as a water jacket) for a liquid coolant to circulate under pressure. When the pressure becomes too high, the radiator cap releases excess fluid and vapor into the coolant reservoir tank. This car reservoir tank holds the excess fluid and returns it back to the radiator when the car cools down and the negative pressure creates a vacuum. The pressurized water-cooling system allows the coolant to operate at higher temperatures without boiling into a less efficient steam.

The engine in your automobile runs at extreme internal temperatures (190 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit). In fact, the heat expands the pistons just below their melting point. If your engine overheats, you can expect the head gasket to blow out first as your only safeguard. This thick durable gasket is the only thing that is sealing the pressure between the engine block and cylinder head. When the head gasket blows out, the mating surfaces can warp and make repairs problematic. This is why the car reservoir tank is so important in reserving excess pressure and fluid in sealed cooling systems.

Audi invented the first automotive water-cooled engine that is now found in nearly every modern automobile. Water-cooling has expanded the number of engine building materials and the sizes of engines. It is far more efficient to pass water through the internal parts of the engine and to transfer heat to the external radiator where the air cools it. Before water-cooled engines, vehicles relied solely upon large fans jetting the air over the engine itself. The jump in the size of engines and their displacement and horsepower correlates with the introduction of water-cooled engines.

Finding High-Quality Replacement Parts

When you need any replacement parts in this system like a car reservoir tank or an expansion tank, PartsMax is the premium choice. We have a full selection of coolant system parts to accommodate nearly every make and model. You can count on the quality of the parts performing as well as the original factory parts. PartsMax is committed to customer satisfaction and building a long-term relationship. For this reason, you can expect prompt receipt of your products and the correct fit.

Water-Cooling System Maintenance

Water-cooling systems usually operate efficiently without a lot of maintenance. However, leaks are an eventuality that every owner will face as the rubber hoses, plastic, and seals deteriorate over time. If you are replacing any parts in your coolant system, it is important to align the markings of the coolant hose clamps to fit in their original positions. If you fail to do even this minute adjustment, you can develop small and elusive coolant leaks that wick invisibly away from their source of origin.

The tell-tale signs of a leak are sweet-smelling white plumes of vaporized coolant blowing off the engine or fluorescent colored droplets on the ground. Leaks can be elusive to pinpoint and are generally detected by cleaning the engine thoroughly and using a white paper towel to check areas for leakage by starting at high points and moving downward. Some leaks can be hard to find because they are coming from hidden places like the water pump housing seal. Other leaks can be internal if the head gasket begins to deteriorate in the portions separating the water jacket ports from the oil passages. In any case, count on PartsMax to provide quality parts at fantastic prices.