PBM Swirl Tank

[s13-t]

So I searched google as well as the forums for answers to a couple questions.

I wanted to know where the breather tank should be mounted, higth wise, in relation to the radiator and puke tank. I also wanted a definitive answer regarding the use of a dummy cap on the radiator.

So I emailed PBM and this was their response.

"The swirl pot needs to be the highest point of the water/radiator system. We usually mount them in the back left corner of the engine bay. The overflow tank can be lower than the breather tank. The radiator cap needs to be a dummy cap and the breather tank should have a high pressure cap." -Nate

Thought I would share with the rest of NICO

[jsturges18]

wait wait wait... can you state the point of this "swirl tank"? im not understanding and just curious.

[Razi]

It's constantly bleeding your coolant system of air bubbles.
I have one myself, I highly recommend one. Great price too! No reason not to run one.

[jsturges18]

hmmm interesting. Razi do you mind posting up a pic of your set up? any downfalls to this?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

wait wait wait... can you state the point of this "swirl tank"? im not understanding and just curious.

I was wondering the same thing. Seems redundant to me.

Essentially what it sounds like it does though is burp any bubbles from your radiator via the dummy cap (overflows/bleeds at very little pressure) up to this tank, which is elevated, and also will still overflow/dump into the overflow tank. I'm not sure how well it will return though... probably well enough as it seems like this acts as a secondary overflow tank.

[Razi]

hmmm interesting. Razi do you mind posting up a pic of your set up? any downfalls to this?

I have mine mounted next to the overflow tank, using a bracket that came with the swirl tank.

No downfalls. Makes bleeding the coolant much easier. I haven't tracked my car before and after, so I can't really tell if there was an improvement, but if small air bubbles were to form, it won't go back into the engine again.

You could mount it in the back like Dai Yoshihara's car. That's probably a neater position.


I know that a lot of older Formula 1 cars that ran Cosworth motors had swirl pots like this:

Coolant flows from the top to the bottom so no air bubbles get recirculated back into the motor.
I've been thinking about getting mine modified like that, and putting it on my upper radiator hose.

[danshaz82]

[s13-t]

Also, found the lower hose adapters on ebay for 4.50
just fyi