Coolant tanks keep blowing?

Tiny
WALLY AB
  • MEMBER
  • 2016 FORD FOCUS
  • 1.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
Car keeps going through tanks. Installed aftermarket one and it went after a week.

Then got OEM one and it started leaking again from the same spot on the bottom.

Could this be a thermostat issue and is it possible to replace it without replacing the whole assembly?
Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 4:37 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,580 POSTS
If you mean the reservoirs keep failing it could simply, be they were beat up in shipping. However, it could mean that there is pressure in the system. You say they both leak in the same place, could you take a picture and post it on here so we can see the damaged area?
If it's a mounting point it could be stress, if it's a hose bib it could be the hose is moving and flexing the tank and cracking it. Seeing it might make it easier to tell. You might want to watch the engine with it running. Have someone start it, hold the brake and put it in gear and step on the throttle, the engine shouldn't move very much, but age and heat could have damaged a mount so the engine moves and flexes in ways it shouldn't.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 5:50 PM
Tiny
WALLY AB
  • MEMBER
  • 97 POSTS
This was the first one that came with the car. Someone JB welded it and it started leaking. I then replaced it with a Dorman one which failed after about a week and returned it. Even the OEM one I bought from ford failed around the same area.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 6:09 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,580 POSTS
That is the area that the turbocharger cooling return line attaches. Your engine is stock with no "upgrades" correct? Excess heat from the turbo might be a contributing factor to failure. Has the engine temperature gotten higher?
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 8:01 PM
Tiny
WALLY AB
  • MEMBER
  • 97 POSTS
I checked with my xtool scanner I don't believe the coolant temperqature has ever gotten higher than around 105.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 8:32 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,580 POSTS
That should be okay. Other than heat or physical damage I don't know of anything else that would cause it to fail in that area, there isn't anything to hit it that I can think of. If the turbo is running hotter for some reason it could make that area weaker and with the baffle it could expand and crack the plastic.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 9:31 PM
Tiny
WALLY AB
  • MEMBER
  • 97 POSTS
I took it to the dealer; they told me there is a weep hole when it builds up pressure. I got it exchanged but I'm thinking it may be a faulty cap) I ordered another.
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Monday, June 17th, 2024 AT 9:02 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,580 POSTS
A bad cap would cause higher pressure but in your picture that is a failed tank, not a weep hole.
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Monday, June 17th, 2024 AT 9:37 AM
Tiny
WALLY AB
  • MEMBER
  • 97 POSTS
This was the original one that came with the car. I have replaced the tank three times.
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Monday, June 17th, 2024 AT 10:44 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,580 POSTS
The cap could be tested but replacement might be cheaper. Let us know what happens.
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Monday, June 17th, 2024 AT 11:29 AM
Tiny
WALLY AB
  • MEMBER
  • 97 POSTS
I replaced the cap with a motorcraft one and drove for a while on the highway temp range was from 68-91.
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Monday, June 17th, 2024 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,380 POSTS
So, is the reservoir still okay and is the problem fixed with the radiator cap?
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Wednesday, June 19th, 2024 AT 7:29 PM
Tiny
WALLY AB
  • MEMBER
  • 97 POSTS
It is for now, but I'm hoping it doesn't happen again. I did get the upper rad hose to the thermostat and it was warm after driving.
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Wednesday, June 19th, 2024 AT 8:40 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,380 POSTS
Thanks for letting us know, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Thursday, June 20th, 2024 AT 9:26 AM

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