what to do about these parts?

[archaeic_bloke]

hey,

considering removing and relocating a few things in the engine bay.. wondering what you guys reccomend for each of the following:


1) PCM valve... is it needed? what does it do!? can it simply be unplugged, block off the 2 vacuum lines coming and going for it and toss it out?

2) resistor pack: obviously necessary, but is there a good place to tuck it away?

3) radiator fluid reservoir: is it really necessary to keep this? i mean.. if fluid comes out its just "supposed" to go into the bottle.. but if it doesnt i don't realy care.. i mean that bottle doesnt GIVE" fluid to the rad if its low on coolant does it? i don't see any lines going to it....

4) charcoal canistor: ... toss it out. and block off the vacuum lines? what about the lines from the gas tank?

5) heat shields above where cat used to be and throuhg out exhaust: are these worth keeping around?


and finally, is it worth re-wrapping the electrical wires in new plastic tube and black vinyl tape?.. i was planning on checking the electrical resistance of all the wires in the ecu and ign harness to see if any are worth replacing (in case of interior line corrosion)

thanks guys,

[DrMango]

The charcoal canistor is easy to remove. It will be pretty straight forward once you start pulling it. You should trace the lines to the tank and remove it all if your looking for a complete job. I didnt remove those so I cant offer more advise on that one.

The resistor pack for me was tucked into the fender on the passenger side but a GTS has more room there. You can still see it if you are ducking under the hood on the driver side and looking over there.

Heat shields can be removed but there wouldnt be much for gains in weight savings?

Kyle

[mcfly]

Do you have a picture of the PCM valve you are referring too? Is this the factory boost solenoid?

If so you can plug both lines, cap the one hardline and cap the other line where it goes into the vacuum box under the plenum.

[Kras]

The coolant overflow tank is there for a reason... think, what does fluid do when heated?

[archaeic_bloke]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d26/archaeic_bloke/IMG_5515.jpg

the thing i highlighted in the obnoxious colors is what im calling the PCM valve

if i remove it and plug both lines.. then won't my turbos over boost?

but should be fine once i install an aftermarket boost controller right?

[archaeic_bloke]

and ya i know the fluid expands when heated up.. but as far as i can see there is no way for the fluid to RE-ENTER the cooling system once the rad cap has opened and allowed the excess fluid to overflow into the reservoir...

get what im saying?

it seems to me, like its only purpose is to catch all the overflowing coolant so that it doesnt spill onto the road!

no?

or is there indeed a return into the coolant system from the reservoir?

[mcfly]

You are correct, the rad doesn't pull fluid into the engine, the rad cap is only one way. Out but no in ;)

You can plug those lines at any point in the system if you go to an a/m boost controller.

[archaeic_bloke]

k sweet question 1, 2, 4 and 5 all answered, but still about the rad fluid reservoir.

if thats true about it not going back into the system.. then WHY do i need it ?.. i don't care if my excess rad fluid spills onto the road... (i know im a terrible enviromentalist)
does it really matter though?

[mcfly]

in that case no, run a line from the rad neck down to the ground.

[paradox]

Hopefully you're not planning on tracking the car while dumping coolant on the ground?

[mcfly]

Hopefully you're not planning on tracking the car while dumping coolant on the ground?

This is actually a good point too. Coolant is extremely slippery and a potential hazard for bikers. Very large hazard actually.

[archaeic_bloke]

LOL.. no.. it was hypothetical... ill make a "coolant catch tank" out of aluminum and just make a drain so i can drain it if it gets too full once in a while

hey why not just use a catch tank that is usually intended to catch oil blow by then? one with those level gauges on it so you can see if its full or not...

how would that be?

[Zacho]

Redbull can overflow for me. You won't need to have a catchtank you need to empty with coolant.

[archaeic_bloke]

Redbull can overflow for me. You won't need to have a catchtank you need to empty with coolant.

seriously? ... can you show me a photo? i find that hard to believe..lol

[GRIP]

You need a coolant reservoir tank, it acts as an expansion tank for when the coolant gets hot, when it cools (in a pressurized / sealed system) the coolant will get drawn back into the radiator (that’s why there is a min and max mark). The coolant over flow tube connects to a "snorkel" on the side/base of the reservoir tank so it will not draw any air back into the cooling system.

[archaeic_bloke]

....are you sure about that?

that kind of makes sense to me too... cause the rad cap would be open while its hot.. then as fluid contracts like you say it goes back in and rad cap closes... hrmm yea ill buy that..

so dang.. i can't get rid of the reservoir tank... anyone know of any aftermarket options?

and dude whos using the redbull can.. you may wanna reconsider lol although i suppose technically it still works?

[Allan74]

Have you ever noticed the fluid 'LEVEL LINE' on the resevoir ? There is a HOT line and a COLD line (cold line low, hot line high?)

You need it, leave it in or replace it with something sexier, but make sure you have one in.

[archaeic_bloke]

you guys know of any aftermarket options?

[Allan74]

Ebay brand X - whatever fits aluminium......nice, cheap, looks good.

Just make sure the line into it goes BELOW the water level, or just make it go right to the bottom....OR, Bottom feed it (turn catch can upside down)....nice and simple.

[Allan74]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Overflow-Tank-3-x-8-Aluminum-Radiator-NEW-3-x8_W0QQitemZ200431976925QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_ Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2eaaad41dd


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Overflow-Tank-3-x-8-Aluminum-Radiator-NEW-3-x8_W0QQitemZ190368560803QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_ Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2c52d9b6a3

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/240SX-S13-ALUMINUM-OVERFLOW-COOLANT-TANK-Sr20det-KA24DE_W0QQitemZ160399705158QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMot ors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item255891444 6

[Allan74]

I personally am buying this one (listed for a Supra):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Supra-MK-III-IV-7MGTE-2JZGTE-Alum-Coolant-Overflow-Tank_W0QQitemZ370323623040QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotor s_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item5639020c80

OR this one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/86-92-Supra-Alum-Coolant-Overflow-Tank-7MGTE-MK-III-New_W0QQitemZ350308551941QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors _Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item5190044d05


Here is another 'Round' choice as well....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Universal-3-Aluminum-OVERFLOW-Coolant-TANK-all-Civic_W0QQitemZ370324131208QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMoto rs_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item563909cd88

[Rapier46]

coolant will get sucked back in to the engine from the bottle, keep it.

[mcfly]

coolant will get sucked back in to the engine from the bottle, keep it.

I still disagree with this

[Allan74]

I still disagree with this

How do you explain the HOT and COLD levels then ?

[GRIP]

"cause the rad cap would be open while its hot"
The rad cap is for bleeding off excess pressure in the cooling system, thats why they are rated in Bar or Psi

[mcfly]

"cause the rad cap would be open while its hot"
The rad cap is for bleeding off excess pressure in the cooling system, thats why they are rated in Bar or Psi

I agree, the rad cap should not be open when hot, if that was the case the overflow would spew coolant everywhere out of its overfill port.

If you open your rad when the engine is off and cold you will notice the fluid is low, this fluid came out to keep the pressure where you want in the rad, fluid did not come back in.

So as for the explanation for hot and cold levels. I've never read the bottle but maybe it is a case of engrish because it doesn't matter other then too much fluid causing a overflow. Our rad caps are one way, when closed they are closed and they are closed anything under their rated pressure.

[Allan74]

The overflow tank on every car is more full when hot, then emptier when cold. This is a basic thing....

The overflow tank also helps replenish the system once air has been removed from the system by replacing with water from the reservoir over time.
New RAD install, keep adding water ? till all air is out ? but you wanna keep the rad cap on and keep the system pressurized ? add it to reservoir ? ARE YOU GUYS SERIOUS ?

[Bignate]

I think mcfly is right. On Skylines we just have an overflow, it doesnt really function as a resevior like some other cooling systems have. It just functions to catch any excess coolant that makes it past the rad cap. If your overflow keeps filling up you either have a bad rad cap or the cooling system pressure is getting too high.

[Allan74]

I think mcfly is right. On Skylines we just have an overflow, it doesnt really function as a resevior like some other cooling systems have. It just functions to catch any excess coolant that makes it past the rad cap. If your overflow keeps filling up you either have a bad rad cap or the cooling system pressure is getting too high.

No way, this is a basic function and the Skyline world is not excluded.

[GRIP]

Most people just fill it through the rad cap at idle for a while then place the cap on .. go for a quick drive and then top it up when it cools

BN have a look at the bottle in FAST it will all make sense, cars with the other style of tank that attach from the top have a tube that goes to the bottom of the tank so it will not suck air back into the system

[mcfly]

Allan you need to think about this some more. Our cars do not pull coolant in only expel when hot at least this is how my cap works. I realize hundreds of sites say it pulls fluid in but i just dont see it on a skyline.

This is different on something like a mercedes where the overflow is actually the highest point in the engine and it looks more like an air separator. A complete sealed unit but an expansion tank.

[Allan74]

No thinking needed. It is as simple as simple can get.

It is a standard/basic pressurized cooling system that uses an expansion/overflow tank like nearly every other car.

There is nothing special about the radiator design, the cap, or the tank...in OEM/Factory configuration anyways.

[mcfly]

I don't see a check valve in my rad cap for sucking fluid in

[Allan74]

The manual even refers to it as a REVERVOIR and lists the suggested FILLING LEVEL to be between MIN & MAX.

I don't know what else I can say to strengthen this overly complicated claim.....

However, I really can't discuss this any longer without pulling any more of my hair out.......please take mercy on me and finally concede.

[mcfly]

only when you show me a rad cap with two passages

[Allan74]

Only when you show me a reason to partially fill and maintain a so-called 1-way overflow-only tank.

[mcfly]

well regardless of how it works my rad doesn't suck in shit. The hose going to it is much too loose to be of any use in retaining suction.

[Allan74]

Empty 2L of water from your cooling system when cold. Fill the reservoir tank to the tippy-top. I GARUNTEE once the car runs for a while and warms up, the reservor tank will be sucked dry ;) (unless your reservoir holds more than what you emptied that is).....

[archaeic_bloke]

wow both arguments make sense kind of... im not sure which side im more convinced of but i think in any case ill just buy one of those ebay coolanet reservoir tanks... they look decent + it will work incase of either method

whats the final consensus?

[Allan74]

Get the long skinny Supra tank (like me)....I think it will fit nicer tucked up against fender or somewhere out of the way. They both also have level indicator (like the regular catch cans).

[Rapier46]

Yea I think you need that hose from rad to bottom if res. To suck up coolant

[Zacho]

seriously? ... can you show me a photo? i find that hard to believe..lol

Its just a redbull can that I used a reamer on one end to make a hole the size of my hose coming off the rad. Its small enough it tucks under the rad support and nobody sees it.

[M13]

Stop arguing about this, watch the vid. Without an overflow recovery, your coolant hoses would collapse when cooled down.

YouTube- Engine Radiator Cap

[mcfly]

Yes I took back what i said as i recently removed my rad cap and inspected it.

I just realized though that the hose on my rad neck is loose to the point it just sucks air in. so do you need a reservoir? The answer is no, do you want one, yes.

[Allan74]

so do you need a X ? The answer is no, do you want one, yes.

That pretty much sums up my entire GTR/RB26 parts buying strategy.....LOL

[archaeic_bloke]

LOL... finally a sound conclusion... ive made up my mind though before this asi i wanted to air on the side of safety , going with one of those generic Ebay kits that allan suggested

[Skym]

From what I understand, on old school V8's they left a gap at top of radiator as the expansion area for the hot coolant. On new cars they fill radiator up to top and use a overflow bottle as the expansion area for the hot coolant.

With overflow bottle, I gather you don't need to remove radiator cap to inspect coolant level, coolant condition and get hot coolant sprayed over you, etc. Also coolant level can be adjusted by removing overflow bottle cap and adding water to overflow bottle with no danger of hot coolant getting sprayed everywhere.

So I guess your both correct. You don't need to run a overflow bottle, but a overflow bottle makes inspecting coolant level, adding water to radiator when hot, etc alot easier, safer.

I don't see the point in a aluminium overflow bottle, as how can you see the water level??? Unless it's like a catchtank with one of those bolt onto side of catchtank oil level indicators??? Factory made then clearish plastic for a reason.

[archaeic_bloke]

I don't see the point in a aluminium overflow bottle, as how can you see the water level??? Unless it's like a catchtank with one of those bolt onto side of catchtank oil level indicators??? Factory made then clearish plastic for a reason.

ya.. they have one of those

[BNR32]

I would just paint mine black but tape off a strip to indicate the fluid level.

[Allan74]

Aluminium tank w/catch-can style external-hose level viewer - FTW !