coolant reservoir fix - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

timtiminy · 10-08-2008, 09:45 PM

Hey guys i thought i would throw up a little diy write up on fixing a busted coolant reservoir. This will only work with a reservoir that isnt completely disinigrated. My reservoir had a hole in the top corner as you can see in picture 1 (sorry for the not so great quality photos, all i have is my camera phone.)
First things first... pull the reservoir out of the car and clean it up good on the outside.

Sand around the opening of the hole on the outside to prep the plastic to be bonded by the plastic epoxy.
here is all the stuff i used...

find an empty juice container that has a similar bend corner, this is what you will use to cut and cover the hole. I cut one of the bottom corners out of the juice container and trimmed it to fit over the hole with overlap. I also used a heat gun to get it soft to conform it a little better and let it cool down while holding it over the hole to keep that shape. be careful here cause when the plastic gets soft it will be really hot.
Here is the epoxy i used:

here is the corner of the plastic juice container i cut to fit over the hole:

Sand the inside edges of this piece to promote adhesion of the epoxy. mix the epoxy and put an ample amount around the hole on the reservoir and around the inside edge of the plastic piece you cut. place and hold in place till the epoxy bonds... this should only take a few minutes. I used some extra epoxy around the edges as if it were caulk and also sanded down all the excess once it dried... this didnt cost me anything as i had everything i needed laying around, all you might need is the plastic epoxy which is only $5 at your local hardware store.
Here is the finished, repaired coolant reservoir

:

gotta240 · 10-08-2008, 09:54 PM

awesome enginuity.

thanks!

EDacIouSX · 10-08-2008, 09:57 PM

lol looks all busted up and patched together. but at least it works right? good write up.

timtiminy · 10-08-2008, 10:06 PM

its air tight. literally... i covered up the overflow hole and return line hole and blew into it through the fill hole and no air leaks at all. I did this cause i didnt want to spend any money on a new one when i am probably selling the car soon anyhow.

s13dan · 10-08-2008, 10:20 PM

lol great fix! looks like something i would do

SammyGreen · 10-08-2008, 10:23 PM

hey I just fixed one for a girl I know, I literally plastic welded it though...

looks great!

10-08-2008, 09:45 PM	#1
timtiminy Zilvia Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Socal Posts: 624 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	coolant reservoir fix Hey guys i thought i would throw up a little diy write up on fixing a busted coolant reservoir. This will only work with a reservoir that isnt completely disinigrated. My reservoir had a hole in the top corner as you can see in picture 1 (sorry for the not so great quality photos, all i have is my camera phone.) First things first... pull the reservoir out of the car and clean it up good on the outside. Sand around the opening of the hole on the outside to prep the plastic to be bonded by the plastic epoxy. here is all the stuff i used... find an empty juice container that has a similar bend corner, this is what you will use to cut and cover the hole. I cut one of the bottom corners out of the juice container and trimmed it to fit over the hole with overlap. I also used a heat gun to get it soft to conform it a little better and let it cool down while holding it over the hole to keep that shape. be careful here cause when the plastic gets soft it will be really hot. Here is the epoxy i used: here is the corner of the plastic juice container i cut to fit over the hole: Sand the inside edges of this piece to promote adhesion of the epoxy. mix the epoxy and put an ample amount around the hole on the reservoir and around the inside edge of the plastic piece you cut. place and hold in place till the epoxy bonds... this should only take a few minutes. I used some extra epoxy around the edges as if it were caulk and also sanded down all the excess once it dried... this didnt cost me anything as i had everything i needed laying around, all you might need is the plastic epoxy which is only $5 at your local hardware store. Here is the finished, repaired coolant reservoir : Last edited by timtiminy; 10-09-2008 at 12:41 AM..

10-08-2008, 10:20 PM	#5
s13dan Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Springfield, Mo Posts: 1,519 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	lol great fix! looks like something i would do __________________ 89 240sx hatch #933-the hot rod 91 240sx coupe #131,603-the daily

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10-08-2008, 09:54 PM	#2
gotta240 Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: so cal Posts: 3,496 Trader Rating: (21) Feedback Score: 21 reviews	awesome enginuity. thanks!

10-08-2008, 09:57 PM	#3
EDacIouSX Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles Age: 39 Posts: 4,566 Trader Rating: (53) Rides Gallery: EDacIouSX Feedback Score: 53 reviews	lol looks all busted up and patched together. but at least it works right? good write up.

10-08-2008, 10:06 PM	#4
timtiminy Zilvia Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Socal Posts: 624 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	its air tight. literally... i covered up the overflow hole and return line hole and blew into it through the fill hole and no air leaks at all. I did this cause i didnt want to spend any money on a new one when i am probably selling the car soon anyhow.

10-08-2008, 10:23 PM	#6
SammyGreen Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Appleton Wisconsin Age: 36 Posts: 152 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	hey I just fixed one for a girl I know, I literally plastic welded it though... looks great!