Mishimoto Coolant Overflow Tank R&D
 

Tanks, But No Tanks – 2013+ Subaru BRZ / Toyota FR-S Overflow Tank, Part 1: OEM Review and 3D Models

I have been a big fan of Subaru vehicles for a substantial part of my life, and I have lots of experience with WRXs, but the BRZ (and FR-S) is still very new to me. Not too long ago, one of our engineers had his 2013 Subaru BRZ out in the parking lot, and I asked him to pop the hood so that I might check out the power plant. Have you ever seen an old episode of Scooby-Doo when Shaggy opens a door and jumps about a mile in the air, screaming, having revealed the spooky ghost residing therein? Well, you can call me Shaggy, and here is the ghost:

http://engineering.mishimoto.com/wp-...-installed.jpg
BRZ Parts (or FR-S Parts)

Like, zoinks! Look at all that hideous white plastic – nobody wants a haunted Toyobaru, but how on earth would one solve this problem? Who ya gonna call?

Mishimoto!

Overflow Tank Functionality

Our ghostbusters engineers are already chugging right along in the development of an awesome new overflow tank for the 2013+ FR-S/BRZ. An overflow tank is an important part of a car’s cooling system; it serves to receive and store coolant that is purged from the radiator in high-pressure situations. An overflow tank, unlike an expansion tank, is not pressurized and contains a vacuum line through which coolant is drawn back into the system when needed. An expansion tank is part of a sealed, pressurized system that allows the radiator to purge coolant when it is overly hot and expansive, and to draw it back in when the system cools to a sufficient degree. It does this by utilizing the pressure differential that varies with temperature to create a vacuum condition due to air that is part of the system; another important distinction is that coolant does not have to purge through a pressure cap before entering the tank because it is a pressurized component in the system.

http://engineering.mishimoto.com/wp-...OEM-in-car.jpg
BRZ Parts (or FR-S Parts)

As you can see, the OEM unit is a bulbous hunk of white plastic (although this one is sporting a snazzy Mishimoto silicone coolant line – part of our BRZ/FR-S Radiator Hose Kit). Our Mishimoto tank replacement will be an attractive aluminum piece, and it will hold a larger volume of coolant than the OEM unit. We have already modeled the piece and recently 3D printed it to check fitment.

http://engineering.mishimoto.com/wp-...3d-printed.jpg
BRZ Parts (or FR-S Parts)

In order to test fit, we needed first to remove that OEM poltergeist.

http://engineering.mishimoto.com/wp-...moving-OEM.jpg
BRZ Parts (or FR-S Parts)

After the exorcism was complete, we made quick work of throwing in our prototype.

http://engineering.mishimoto.com/wp-...talled-top.jpg
BRZ Parts (or FR-S Parts)

The tank fit well and looks markedly better than the OEM unit! Check out a photo of the two pieces side by side for a more direct comparison.

http://engineering.mishimoto.com/wp-...de-by-side.jpg
BRZ Parts (or FR-S Parts)

Definitely an improvement, and it will look even better in aluminum!

Coming Soon – Renderings

This project is well underway, and we will have some cool renderings to present in the not-too-distant future. Check back for more details on this project, and enjoy your cars as the summer weather starts to creep in!

Read more about our R&D processes on our engineering blog!

Thanks for reading,

-Gardiner

Will this product have more coolant overflow capacity for when your Mishimoto thermostat fails and gets stuck closed?

If not, I think I may just stick with the stock unit, just like I should've done with my thermostat.

This is pretty much a useless part. At least make it look good.

Hey ATL,

Our tank will indeed hold a larger volume of coolant than OEM!

I'm very sorry to hear about your troubles with our thermostat, and I'd be happy to put you in contact with someone on our support team if you would like to follow up on the issue further - as you may know, we provide a lifetime warranty with every product we sell. I know my coworker had reached out to you on here previously, but PM me if you want to discuss further and I'd be happy to work things out with you.

That said, we'd love to hear some feedback on our overflow tank. I've been a Subaru guy for a while, and the engineer on the project drives a BRZ. We are both excited to be working on this project, and I'd love to get some input from a fellow enthusiast like yourself!

Boredom,

This part will be functional in that it will have increased coolant capacity as compared to OEM, but the primary benefit to this (and most aftermarket expansion or overflow tanks) is aesthetic! I anticipate this being a really nice-looking aluminum piece, and we will hopefully have some good renderings to post in the not-too-distant future. Thanks for your feedback!

Thanks everybody, and keep the questions coming.
-Gardiner

looking forward to seeing this in the shop!

This tank is going to look damn good in my engine bay!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...%20Bay0101.jpg


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projekt zeal86 build

zeal.eightsix Facebook

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I was about to say.. this has @zeal86 written all over it ;)

When did Lego buy out Mishimoto?

A friend sent me a similar version to what he was working.

Attachment 136896


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It will probably leak and then take 100s of emails and a forum post to finally get them to warranty it.

showoff :bow:

Excellent! I'll keep you posted on our progress.

That engine bay, though....:clap:. The tank will be right at home!

Very impressed with the amount of work you put into this recreation! You ought to save the design in case Lego/Technic comes out with a Toyobaru kit anytime soon. They've been known to have a bit of a thing for horizontally opposed motors...

http://www.topgear.com/sites/default...?itok=botGCj9r

:thumbup:

- Gardiner

Gardiner... any updates to report?

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projekt zeal86 build

zeal.eightsix Facebook

Instagram | zeal.eightsix

Hopefully should have some pretty soon! I'll keep you all posted, don't worry. Your car looks awesome, by the way. Really coming together nicely.