How Does a Coolant Recovery Tank Work?
Engine coolant is a carefully engineered product that is designed to work under extreme operating temperatures. During normal operation, it will heat up and expand, causing it to require additional space that isn’t available in a closed system. In older vehicles, this fluid would force its way past the radiator filler cap and through a tube into a separate tank. These days, an integrated reservoir and recovery tank will provide the radiator with the cooling fluid when needed instead.
It is important to keep an eye on the recovery tank on a regular basis to ensure that the correct amount of coolant is always within the system. Each tank will be marked with various levels to show how much fluid is within, when this liquid is either hot or cold and the fluid level should never exceed the maximum marking on the tank. The tank is connected to the radiator by hoses and the system may either be under pressure or non-pressurized.