I scored a nice (though not new) coolant expansion tank at the LKQ about a year ago. My current one is so old that you can hardly see what the coolant level is. This expansion tank needs a good cleaning. It's got some sediment in it that won't budge. I got most of it out using some high pressure water, but some still remains. I can't get a toothbrush in there because it appears that there are baffles in the tank. Anyone got any tips to get that sediment out, perhaps a flexible pipe cleaner brush?

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

I would just buy a new one...this way you can be sure that it's clean, and won't crack on you at the most inopportune time.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Yes, the old ones can get quite brittle. You could try throwing in some BBs and soapy water and shaking it up.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Use some fine gravel instead of BBs. Is a new tank pricey?

A new tank is not particularly pricey, under $50. But I just have this tank lying here and I figure I ought to put it to good use. Though the thought of nice, new white plastic is under the hood is tempting.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

You can clean the crud and dirt out with Brakeclean , squirt a bit in and slosh it about a couple of times then rinse with dish soapy water several times. Worked for me. Cheers Dan

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It's always something simple
91 300D 603.960 (from japan) 194K
92 Toyota Diesel Landcruiser HDJ81-t 116K
02 Golf TDI new head courtesy of PO
87 300D
97 BMW 525 TDS Wagon 5spd
bunch of Onan and other diesel generators

I just put a new one in.....its probably close to impossible to get an old one clean again.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I found that gunk engine degreaser works good for this purpose.

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

When you put the cleaner in there, throw in a handful of raw rice, swish it around to clean (much like BBs).

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'98 E300 DT
'87 190D 2.5 turbo RIP
'92 S500 Sold
'03 3.2TL-S A-Spec

didnt chad put his brake fluid reservoir in the dishwasher?


any bachelors out there wanna try it??

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

On a VW expansion tank, BB's are the better option for agitating the grime out. Rice and gravel would probably do the job, as others have suggested, but once in, they can't be removed. The top of the expansion tank, at least on my daughter's 2001 Jetta, is like a fish trap. When I got done cleaning out the innards, I turned the unit top side down and the soapy water came out, but the BB's collected on the interior rim and not one came out. Thankfully, I checked ahead of time to be sure that the BB's were steel. They were easily removed with a magnet. Sorry about you guys who used rice or gravel.