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Expansion tank?

1985 Ford F-150

1985 Ford F-150

Country Boys Can Survive
7,816
307
Tooele, Utah
I got some sort of expansion tank when we got the 410. It bolts in place of the thermostat housing and has a metal tube goin up from the thermostat to a little tank that looks like it holds half a gallon to a gallon. It has its own radiator cap and from the tank theres a short hose that goes to the upper radiator hose. Ill get a pic later of it. Im just not sure what it is cause it dont say anything about it in my books. What do yall think?
 
blacksnapon

blacksnapon

Moderator
Staff member
9,461
301
waynesville,mo.
The old t-birds had those. Its a degas bottle of sorts, an overflow bottle if you will.
 
5.0

5.0

FTF'er
1,319
64
In the Middle
1985 Ford F-150 said:
Im just not sure what it is cause it dont say anything about it in my books.
Click to expand...
I see them referred to most often as "surge tanks". Some people also call them "burp tanks" or "expansion tanks".

I have no idea for sure why they were used on some cars. A thought that has been in my mind - It's possible that the water outlet of the engine was higher than the top of the radiator, so this tank had to be used to fill the cooling system? I don't know if that was the case on older cars or not... someone with a bit more experience may know.
 
1985 Ford F-150

1985 Ford F-150

Country Boys Can Survive
7,816
307
Tooele, Utah
Alright thanks guys Im not sure if ill use it or not im afraid that I might not have enough room under the hood of the truck for it to work, or itll fit but have a hose thats only a couple inches long.
 
5.0

5.0

FTF'er
1,319
64
In the Middle
It's one more thing to leak... I wouldn't use it.
 

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