Coolant tank for Allegro bus

Change it, don't patch it unless, you are temporarily patching it to get somewhere else where you plan on changing it. You don't want this thing blowing apart on the road. There was a story on here last year where someones overflow tank blew out and they could not stop and the engine ended up overheating leading to major damages and major $. You can probably try JB Weld to patch it up. But keep a close eye on it.

Tiffin may give you one. They are the best and want to stay that way.

If you are on a Freightliner chassis. Go ahead and get their replacement tank, It is steel and is well made for the $130.00. I don't think they even stock the old plastic "football" tank anymore.

I did mine and it took the better part of a day, and I ended up extending one hose as it was easier than replacing the whole thing.
I was able to re-use and re-make/configure the existing mounting brackets and hardware.

There is a sight glass on the end of the tank to see the coolant level.

Good luck

Dave

I had one replaced several years back in Albuquerque Freight liner, and I believe my extended insurance at that time payed something like $90.00 It was like the original made out of plastic. It got like a pin hole on it.

JB Weld Water Weld has been keeping my plastic tank leak free for 3 years.

Just saying....

Love JB Weld...but risking a $20K engine for $130 is kind of lame. Some folks here are confusing surge tank and overflow tank. Surge is usually 16 psi and real hot water vs. no pressure overflow tank. Metal is far better if available.

luvdoggiez,
As usual, there's confusion on just exactly what tank we're talking about. I've checked several times before and after the replacing of my "surge" tank, and there isn't, at least up to a short while ago, ANY STEEL REPLACEMENT TANK for the tank in the picture below. That tank, is used by Freightliner and, in many different coaches. It is not "football shaped". It has specific mounting points and, specific hose attaching places and sizes. It's also set up for a sensor.

Now, while I have "patched" many things in my life and, for the most part have gotten away with it, there is no way in he... that I'd patch this one. This tank IS under pressure, for about 99.9999% of the time that you're running down the road. Many of you have noticed on yours the multi-cracking etc. from all areas exposed to the elements. Well, the chemical structure of that tank is now altered. It is in no way, as structurally "sound" as it was when in the new stage. It was much more pliable and resistant to the elements/heat/cold/cycles etc.

But, now, it's old, cracked and seriously weaker. You may get away with "patching" for a while but, that area you patched is the only strong portion of the tank. Don't get me wrong here, as I've stated, I've "patched" many things in life and I too have gotten away with it. But, not something with critical characteristics as this.

Heck, I even looked into fabricating one up out of aluminum. I've got all the tools to do it but, Freightliner had that tank, less than 24 hours away from me and, it was $130.00. I figured, just buy it! Mine was cracked and seriously weather checked but, was not leaking. But, I didn't want it to START leaking while I was not only out on the road on a trip/vacation but, away from home and all my tools and equipment/place to do the work, to change it out.

It's up to you. Nobody said maintaining these rolling KLEENEX boxes was going to be cheap. Some things you just have to bite the bullet and do it right! Good luck.
Scott
Is yours the same as the one in the right upper corner of the pic below?

FIRE UP wrote:
luvdoggiez,
As usual, there's confusion on just exactly what tank we're talking about. I've checked several times before and after the replacing of my "surge" tank, and there isn't, at least up to a short while ago, ANY STEEL REPLACEMENT TANK for the tank in the picture below. That tank, is used by Freightliner and, in many different coaches. It is not "football shaped". It has specific mounting points and, specific hose attaching places and sizes. It's also set up for a sensor.

Now, while I have "patched" many things in my life and, for the most part have gotten away with it, there is no way in he... that I'd patch this one. This tank IS under pressure, for about 99.9999% of the time that you're running down the road. Many of you have noticed on yours the multi-cracking etc. from all areas exposed to the elements. Well, the chemical structure of that tank is now altered. It is in no way, as structurally "sound" as it was when in the new stage. It was much more pliable and resistant to the elements/heat/cold/cycles etc.

But, now, it's old, cracked and seriously weaker. You may get away with "patching" for a while but, that area you patched is the only strong portion of the tank. Don't get me wrong here, as I've stated, I've "patched" many things in life and I too have gotten away with it. But, not something with critical characteristics as this.

Heck, I even looked into fabricating one up out of aluminum. I've got all the tools to do it but, Freightliner had that tank, less than 24 hours away from me and, it was $130.00. I figured, just buy it! Mine was cracked and seriously weather checked but, was not leaking. But, I didn't want it to START leaking while I was not only out on the road on a trip/vacation but, away from home and all my tools and equipment/place to do the work, to change it out.

It's up to you. Nobody said maintaining these rolling KLEENEX boxes was going to be cheap. Some things you just have to bite the bullet and do it right! Good luck.
Scott
Is yours the same as the one in the right upper corner of the pic below?

For a minute there I thought that you had posted a photo of our rig!!

Thanks all for the "heads up" on UV deterioration. I know very well that it occurs but have never given any thought to this one, or the hydraulic reservoir below it. :S When it gets back from the shop I'm going to give them both a close inspection. Hate to lose one or both in the middle of Nowhere, Mexico next winter! :E

The one I had replaced was the one on the upper right hand corner on that picture. It is an overflow, but UV does effect them. Fact I was adding some anti freeze on mine this morning and noticed that UV is starting to flake some of the ridges. So I will probably have to replace it again pretty soon. But the fireman is correct that on a Freightliner it is not the shape of a football.

Everything on my coach is exactly like that picture except my hood is a lot bigger and goes all the way down on the end cap exposing the fuel filter for easy change out.

Twomed wrote:
Love JB Weld...but risking a $20K engine for $130 is kind of lame. Some folks here are confusing surge tank and overflow tank. Surge is usually 16 psi and real hot water vs. no pressure overflow tank. Metal is far better if available.

Yep, I am referring to patching the overflow tank, no pressure.

Spartan uses a metal tank for the overflow pressurized vessel.