Rotary Engine wrote:

Th local aluminum radiator supplier recommends the plastic tanks ( on his
website) before I contact him, what is the recommendation on the plastic
tanks - I heard they were prone to failure much more quickly than the full
aluminum ones. I'm sure the racing people use full aluminum, perhaps for
that reason.
George (down under)

Plastic tanks have been used since the 1970s.  They are reliable.  I
would never use one in an airplane, though, because the few ounces of
extra weight is a small price to pay for the significantly greater
strength of aluminum tanks.

Keith Wood

Most hard plastics in cars last about ten years here in Socal and then become
brittle and crack easily. I am no expert on plastics by anybodies wildest
imagination but I think it is a process called out gassing. If you can
smell it--- it is out gassing. Certain compounds are leaving the plastic
changing its mechanical properties.

Non metallic objects going into space are tested by cooking them in a
vacuum chamber. One example I know for sure is the Space Shuttle
tires. Black "rubber" hoses and is another material that
self destructs over time. According to Cummins engine manufacturer
silicone hose does not. That is also a reason why new cars have a smell.

I would never ever use plastic rad tanks. One crack could kill you.
-- 
Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

No argument there. You have never had a thrill untill you are tooling along
and have one of those nylon/plastic tanks blow off of heater core (BMW) and
fill car with steam, and hot water, of course.  Almost as big a one as that
first miss and engine siilence just right after leaving sight of land when
crossing the gulf; maybe even more of a surprise. You can even expect the
engine to mess with you like that after the first and/or second time.

Has anyone looked at any of these things?
http://tinyurl.com/2w795u

jofarr, soddy tn



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