Though there are many great benefits to car ownership today, there are a few downsides, too. One of the most frustrating is dealing with expensive car maintenance and repair problems.
However, the extent of the damages can make a huge difference in what needs to be done as well as how much has to be paid out of pocket.
Thankfully, there is a lot of great information online that relates to car maintenance problems and how to solve them. Specifically, car repair and maintenance issues that involve the coolant reservoir cracks.
Therefore, in all actuality, when you do your research, you need to know answers to questions like, what causes coolant reservoirs to crack.
The answer to this question usually differs from one repair problem case or situation to the next. So, here are a few common reasons why a crack or cracks can be found in your coolant reservoir tank.
- Degradation from the heating cycles;
- Overheating due to its position next to a hot engine;
- Old Age;
- Polyethylene tank materials (plastic) expands and contract and eventually crack;
- Excessive pressure from extremely cold temperatures.
Taking care of the maintenance of your car is not always as simple and easy to do. Unless you are already familiar with cracks in the coolant reservoir tank, this is an area that you may not address until after the damage has been done.
With that being said, here are a few key things that you need to know about your coolant reservoir. First of all, you need to check your coolant reservoir regularly to see if it needs to be replaced.
For instance, if your reservoir tank looks old and worn, it may be past the time for a replacement. By checking early, you can save a lot of unnecessary headaches with your car overheating.
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Symptoms that a driver should be aware of if the coolant reservoir is cracked
Because the coolant reservoir is a critical part of your cooling system, you need to know when it is time to make repairs or replace it. Therefore, you need to know the telltale signs and symptoms of a cracked coolant, and what to look for.
1. Reservoir is constantly low on coolant
A bad or failing coolant reservoir can easily be detected if you are paying close attention to the level of coolant inside this plastic tank. For instance, if the coolant is always low, you should check for cracks, particularly since it may indicate a leak.
2. Coolant leaks
As mentioned above, if you see a fluid leaking (i.e green, orange, pink, blue, etc.) under your vehicle that is flowing from your reservoir, you know that you may be dealing with a cracked container that is leaking out these fluids.
3. Engine overheats
Another common sign and symptom of a cracked and damaged coolant reservoir container is an engine that overheats. Because the coolant needs to be replaced continuously, the engine can easily begin to overheat when the coolant does not perform this function.
Also, this is a very serious problem that needs to be taken care of immediately to avoid causing the engine to smoke, burn, or sustain other unnecessary costly damages.
How do you repair a cracked coolant reservoir?
Can it be fixed or it is better the replace it?
Fortunately, in some situations, you can fix a cracked coolant reservoir tank. If the age of the coolant reservoir container is not too old, it may be possible to fix it. It is normally a lot less expensive than having to replace it.
To fix a crack, after you have removed the reservoir from the vehicle, you should review and inspect this tank for possible cracks. If the cracks are serious, your only option is to replace the reservoir.
If this inspection shows that there is a crack that can be repaired, you may want to use epoxy as a viable option to do these repairs.
What are the costs to replace or repair the coolant reservoir?
If the coolant reservoir tank cracks can no longer be fixed with epoxy, you may need to follow another course of action or solution to correct this problem. Simply stated, you need to replace the coolant reservoir tank to keep the engine from running hot.
Typically, the average costs of parts and labor for this type of repair job can range from $403 to $425 (i.e. With the average cost for the parts totals about $59 to $74, and the cost of the labor about $345 to $351). It is also important to note that these estimations do not include any taxes or fees that may be quoted with these repairs.
Can I drive with a cracked coolant reservoir?
A cracked coolant reservoir can lead to serious damage to your engine if not corrected as quickly as possible. Therefore, you need to always take the necessary precautions before you continue to drive with a cracked coolant reservoir tank.
For instance, if it is a large leak that produces streams and puddles under your vehicle, the tank should be repaired or replaced before continuing to drive.
Can a cracked coolant reservoir cause overheating or bubbling?
A cracked reservoir can cause overheating or bubbling, especially if these issues are preventing the coolant from being held properly.
Or, if the coolant in the tank can not properly pressurize the system. Whatever the situation or circumstances, both of these issues can cause the engine to overheat.
Conclusion
There are many different causes of a coolant reservoir tank cracking. From old age to excessive pressure from extremely cold temperatures, there are varying reasons for a reservoir tank to sustain these types of damages.
Therefore, everyone must be familiar with the signs and symptoms of a cracked coolant reservoir tank, including how to identify a puddle of coolant fluid under their vehicle.
By learning this information early, the correct precautions can be taken before the engine overheats and serious damage is done. Because cooler reservoir tanks can be either repaired or replaced, the proper corrections can be made before an engine overheats.
