[pisxa]

Hi to all!

I had a small hole in my 19 years old expansion tank, and instead of repairing it, I decided to buy a new one from Rimmer. The new one arrived and it comes with two aluminum reinforcement pieces for the two holes. The thing is, in my old expansion tank there are those pieces, but I'm not able to remove them because they are very tight to the plastic. But in the new one, the pieces are loose. If I mount these pieces, for sure they will fall into the hoses and will end up in the engine...

Has anyone here had these troubles before?
there is a special way to mount the aluminum reinforcements? maybe applying hot air to the plastic?
or did you mount without them?

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[IanMc]

Hi to all!

I had a small hole in my 19 years old expansion tank, and instead of repairing it, I decided to buy a new one from Rimmer. The new one arrived and it comes with two aluminum reinforcement pieces for the two holes. The thing is, in my old expansion tank you are not able to remove that pieces because they are very tight to the plastic. But in the new one, the pieces are loose. If I mount these pieces, for sure they will fall in the hoses and will end in the engine...

Has anyone here had these trobles before?
there is a special way to mount the aluminum reinforcements? maybe applying hot air to the plastic?
or did you mount without them?

Thanks for your help guys!

I can see why they would be helpful in strengthening the two plastic pipes, but if they are causing you difficulty I would just get rid of them.

Never seen any other coolant header tank that uses such reinforcement....

 

[Austin2297]

Perhaps the plastic outlets/header tank casing is not as sturdy as the originals and this aluminium ( not stainless steel?) sleeve is desirable due to this.
Consideration:- leave the pieces in, but put a jubilee clip over the hose around the plastic area, and another one on the hose where the metal tube extends into the hose. Neither can then move.
Opinions vary, but I wouldn’t not use the sleeve, since the plastic outlet may not be strong enough ( on this replacement tank) to withstand the compressive force of the jubilee clip.

 

[Julian Foulger]

It cannot be right for the pieces to be loose and they will be there for a reason. I would check with Rimmers in case this is a manufacturing fault. Mine are tight in.

 

[pisxa]

Perhaps the plastic outlets/header tank casing is not as sturdy as the originals and this aluminium ( not stainless steel?) sleeve is desirable due to this.
Consideration:- leave the pieces in, but put a jubilee clip over the hose around the plastic area, and another one on the hose where the metal tube extends into the hose. Neither can then move.
Opinions vary, but I wouldn’t not use the sleeve, since the plastic outlet may not be strong enough ( on this replacement tank) to withstand the compressive force of the jubilee clip.

The original expansion tank has these aluminum pieces also, but they are tight. In the photos I just presented the piece is partly fitted, they should be fully fitted as in the original tank, so 2 clips don't not helps, thanks for your thoughts anyway!

It cannot be right for the pieces to be loose and they will be there for a reason. I would check with Rimmers in case this is a manufacturing fault. Mine are tight in.

Mine are tight also in the original one, but the replacement one seems not as good quality as the original... and those pieces are not the size they should be...

 

[deepfat]

I agree check with Rimmers first, but have you tried inserting the sleeve and then put a clip on the spigot and just nip it up to see if it grips the sleeve? If Rimmers say it's OK and your still not happy you could return the item or stick them in with a smear of 2 pack.

 

[pisxa]

I agree check with Rimmers first, but have you tried inserting the sleeve and then put a clip on the spigot and just nip it up to see if it grips the sleeve? If Rimmers say it's OK and your still not happy you could return the item or stick them in with a smear of 2 pack.

Rimmer just says if I'm not happy just return the item, but it will cost more for me than keeping it. The problem is that I'm not in the UK, I spent 50€ in shipping and 50€ in customs to get the item. If I return it I have to pay 50€ more for shipping. So I'm afraid that returning the item is not an option

 

[Julian Foulger]

I would take photos and email Rimmers again. Ask them if the item is of merchantable quality; if not, they cannot possibly sell the item to another customer. Frankly, they should send you a straight replacement at zero cost (therefore zero Spanish customs).

I spend £100's with Rimmers every year - whether you do or do not spend a lot of money with them, they should step up and send you a free replacement. I would expect nothing else.

More and more one reads/sees on You tube more crap car parts appearing, even within official supply chains. The quality is getting worse in my view - poor manufacture and no quality control.

 

[Austin2297]

Sorry pisxa but I cannot agree with your logic that a tightened jubilee clip over the hose won’t result in a tight fit of the sleeve into the plastic of the header tank. As Deepfat says - you have to try it before discounting your logic that it will not work - it might or indeed it might not ( as you claim) but you need to try it first.
On the other hand, I agree with Julian that parts are often replicated ‘in general form’ , but important operational detailing can be overlooked/ ignored.

 

[IanMc]

I can understand all the 'worry' here, but I cant help but think a little bit of context might help.

The coolant reservoir is secured in place and the hoses are not whipping around to stress the joints of the reservoir, so just fit it with or without the tubes as you wish. Regardless it will almost certainly outlast the rest of the car...

Just my tuppence

 

[pisxa]

I would take photos and email Rimmers again. Ask them if the item is of merchantable quality; if not, they cannot possibly sell the item to another customer. Frankly, they should send you a straight replacement at zero cost (therefore zero Spanish customs).

I spend £100's with Rimmers every year - whether you do or do not spend a lot of money with them, they should step up and send you a free replacement. I would expect nothing else.

More and more one reads/sees on You tube more crap car parts appearing, even within official supply chains. The quality is getting worse in my view - poor manufacture and no quality control.

I spent more than 3000€ in the last 6 years in Rimmer Bross, never happened something similar to me, also the last time I had a lot of trouble with the shipping cost, they literally lied to me... I'm very disappointed with Rimmer in that last order.

 

[pisxa]

Sorry pisxa but I cannot agree with your logic that a tightened jubilee clip over the hose won’t result in a tight fit of the sleeve into the plastic of the header tank. As Deepfat says - you have to try it before discounting your logic that it will not work - it might or indeed it might not ( as you claim) but you need to try it first.
On the other hand, I agree with Julian that parts are often replicated ‘in general form’ , but important operational detailing can be overlooked/ ignored.

Sorry Austin2297, maybe I don't understand you but leaving the pieces inside and taking the risk that they go into the engine is not an option for me. And don't use that pieces and take the risk that the plastic outlets/header tank casing will be broken because they are not sturdy is neither a good option for me. Thanks anyway for your thoughts.

 

[Austin2297]

I can only think something is getting lost in the translation here, so best for you to do exactly as you want to do.

 

[mowog73]

Even if the two aluminum sleeves are not a tight fit out of the box, once you put the hoses on and install the hose clamps, the expansion tanks' plastic pipes are going to squeeze the aluminum reinforcement pieces and they are not going to move. If you are concerned, put a small dab of glue on the aluminum reinforcement pieces and reinsert into the plastic pipes before installing the hoses on the pipes.

 

[pisxa]

Even if the two aluminum sleeves are not a tight fit out of the box, once you put the hoses on and install the hose clamps, the expansion tanks' plastic pipes are going to squeeze the aluminum reinforcement pieces and they are not going to move. If you are concerned, put a small dab of glue on the aluminum reinforcement pieces and reinsert into the plastic pipes before installing the hoses on the pipes.

The expansion tanks' plastic pipes are NOT going to squeeze because the plastic is hard plastic. I tried at home with an old hose and spare clamp and the aluminum sleeves are still loose. I'm not sure that glue will stand there with the hot coolant and pressure. Instead of doing this kind of workaround, I think I prefer to repair the old expansion tank plugging the leak. But the idea was to buy a new expansion tank to avoid botched jobs or workarounds.

Has anybody bought this expansion tank from Rimmer and had these issues?

I wrote, again, Rimmer, I'm waiting for their answer, I'll keep you posted.

 

[Julian Foulger]

I would not accept the expansion tank for the reasons you give. It cannot be right that the metal sleeves are loose.

 

[pisxa]

I would not accept the expansion tank for the reasons you give. It cannot be right that the metal sleeves are loose.

I think the same, I'm having the feeling that I burned 170€. So, if Rimmer gives me no solution I think I'll repair the old one.

 

[Austin2297]

Hello Pisxa.
Thanks for now explaining that you had tried the hose and jubilee clip suggestion to compress the plastic - and it hadn’t worked - rather than appearing to dismiss the suggestion without trying it. Now we all understand you will need to return the header tank - if practical.

 

[deepfat]

Maybe someone on here works for Rimmers or Rimmers may even be a member on here under another name, who knows. I do know that companies today who don't monitor social media about themselves or the market they work in are at a disadvantage.
Personally, I feel it's about time Rimmers stepped up and offered a solution or at the very least an explanation of how this item is designed? to work. Perhaps pisxa should make Rimmers aware of this thread and the resultant negative publicity they are getting.

 

[pisxa]

Maybe someone on here works for Rimmers or Rimmers may even be a member on here under another name, who knows. I do know that companies today who don't monitor social media about themselves or the market they work in are at a disadvantage.
Personally, I feel it's about time Rimmers stepped up and offered a solution or at the very least an explanation of how this item is designed? to work. Perhaps pisxa should make Rimmers aware of this thread and the resultant negative publicity they are getting.

Their answers are a little bit poor... but at least they say that they are going to talk to the supplier. Hopefully next week they'll give me a solution. I'll keep you posted. I think this is important because our plastic expansion tanks are too old and they have an "expiration date", so sooner or later all of us will have this problem. Before buying from Rimmer I looked for other options because the Rimmer one was the most expensive with shipping and customs (I'm in Spain).

The other options that I found:
- Use a new VAG expansion tank, looking for the internet I found people that use it, and with few modifications, it works. (I discarded it because I prefer the MG original part)

MGTF coolant expansion tank

Hi Does anyone know if the later TF expansion tank, with the integral coolant level sensor fits an earlier F (MY2000) ? I can see this as an easy way to get a level sensor for my baby :-) I have the necessary know-how to make the interface electronics. Thx

www.mg-rover.org

- Use an aluminum expansion tank. I see in social networks even people that created their own.