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Expansion Tank Leaking

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gsm187

Freshman Member
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I guess the high 90's heat here in the Northeast was too much for my expansion tank, as it has begun to leak (that's putting it mildly.) I believe it's painted copper or copper alloy. Has anyone had the need to fix one of these - I understand that they aren't readily available, and I'd much rather fix anthing that's fixable anyway. I was wondering if it could be sweated like copper pipe? Any feedback, as always, would be appreciated. Gary
 
Gary - The expansion tanks are brass and work harden over time from expanding and contracting. You may be able to repair it, but I would expect that you are going to have other cracks show up over time. You may be able to find a plastic expansion tank that will fit (the 1980 Audi 4000 had one) that you could use as a replacement for the original. It would not look original, but would be much less trouble.
Good luck,
 
Take it to a good radiator shop & let them test it.
 
Thanks guys, I'll take it to the shop and hope. I'd rather keep the original look, but I'm afraid even a replacement used brass tank will eventually do the same thing. Plastic might be the way to go if it can't be fixed - I can always paint it black I guess. Gary
 
If you need one, I probably have it...used.
 
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