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IoWesty
Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2014
Posts: 181
Location: Iowa
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 Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:14 am Post subject: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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I'm thinking about upgrading to the aluminum expansion tank offered by Rocky Mountain Westy. Can I get any feed back on how easy it is to install, coolant loss, etc?
How about some owners' observations. Would you do it again if given the opportunity? Thanks. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:42 am Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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The downside of this tank is that you give up the ability to monitor coolant level at a glance
The translucent tank will be gone.
But so will the worries of and the reality of cracked tanks, failed caps (even new ones) and leaky or popping out level senders.
I did it and I'm not going back!
Easy to install, I may have lost a few teaspoons of coolant.
Not cheap but you do it once and done.
I documented my tank swap but can't look for the link right now.
EDIT:
I can't find it, however it was super easy,
I clamped off all of the hoses to the tank.
Suctioned out all of the coolant in the old bottle,
removed the old bottle.
Bolted in the new tank,
hooked up the hoses,
filled the new tank,
released clamped hoses,
modified the level sensor wire and done!
I lost very little coolant.
Dave
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Last edited by djkeev on Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:33 am; edited 1 time in total |
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IoWesty
Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2014
Posts: 181
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:14 am Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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| Thanks, Dave. I was looking for a thread on doing the tank swap, but couldn't find it. |
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ledogboy 
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2005
Posts: 578
Location: Scappoose, OR / Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:27 am Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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The swap is super easy. I no longer have the tank, as I did an engine swap, but I really liked the product while I had it.
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thatbaldwinlife
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011
Posts: 777
Location: Out exploring
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:51 am Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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I have the tank and the swap is easy. I did have to send the first on back as the plastic level sensor started leaking and a replacement did not fix it. It is now just weeping again so I snugged it down just a little. We will see if it stops.
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Westaru
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2016
Posts: 189
Location: Utah
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:58 am Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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Really like mine as well.
My level sensor started weeping as well - pulled it out and gave it a few wraps of yellow teflon tape per RMW's instructions and it seems to have solved the issue. They have great customer service!
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dgbeatty
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2006
Posts: 702
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 11:14 am Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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| I installed one early on when they were using the OEM sensor. It has been trouble free. As to the inability to see the level I do not view that as a problem. The sensor sits higher in the tank than the original and is therefore more sensitive to a low coolant level. The flashing red led in the temp gauge is hard to ignore. RMW also sells a nice mounting bracket if you don't want to make one yourself. |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6556
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 12:03 pm Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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How much is this thing?
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6556
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 12:17 pm Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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Not in my database under "friends." 
But THANKS!
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman
Last edited by E1 on Tue Oct 10, 2017 1:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bobbyblack
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4351
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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| E1 wrote: |
| How much is this thing? |
only 10 times more than the plastic one, for the late model, on the same site... Its a steal vs. a bad breakdown or complete disaster.
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2015
Posts: 704
Location: Berkeley Ca
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:21 pm Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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| I like mine. Came with the van when I bought it. I have a clear plastic overflow so I can monitor level of antifreeze. |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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trip'n
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009
Posts: 78
Location: springfield mo
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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direct replacement.....defiantly glad that i updated.
had been through a cple of the new who knows where they come from plastic tanks.
i have not not had any coolant problems since installed...2/3 years now.
probably just jinxed myself.
plus it looks cool
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6556
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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| bobbyblack wrote: |
| E1 wrote: |
| How much is this thing? |
only 10 times more than the plastic one, for the late model, on the same site... Its a steal vs. a bad breakdown or complete disaster. |
Yep, hear that. 
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6556
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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(Sorry, dipstick attack, out of oil)
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman
Last edited by E1 on Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50347
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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Having come dang close to loosing an engine because a plastic tank ruptured when the van was idling unwatched for a few minutes in the driveway, the aluminium tank is a great upgrade. I would like to improve the mounting a bit as it is not as well supported as the plastic tank was.
I do like that I can readily buy a 7 psi cap, as I have found that low pressure and ancient cooling systems tend to go well together. I can't help but believe if I had been able to run a 7 psi cap originally I would probably have had far few problems with hose and various plastic piece failing over the decades. In 500K plus miles of driving these things, I have had coolant tanks blow (2), level sensor blow, coolant manifolds blow (3), the ends blow off the plastic coolant pipes (2), hoses split, heaters leak(many), and probably things that I can no longer remember. As noted many of these failures happened more than once. |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6556
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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That's a lot of blowing.
Feeling luckier now (but only 50K here, so all in time)
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6832
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:52 am Post subject: Re: RMW Aluminum Expansion Tank |
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It works as advertised. Yet, I wish it had a larger capacity, at least the same as the original tank. I have not measured capacities, just the visual of it.
If your system is all working well it should not make any difference.
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djkeev
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