Which aftermarket Degas Bottle is Good ?

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jgscott

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Which brand aftermarket Degas Bottle works, from Autozone, Oreilys, or Advanced? For a 2002 LS V8 sport.

Heard here that some of the aftermarket one don't provide the correct pressure, even if they don't split. Is this true also?

Thanks
 
My Aftermarket Napa Degas bottle overflows and boils and overheats the engine about once a week. Ford dealer bled system. Did ok for 3-4 days then while idling for about 15 mins 1 day, overflowed and overheated again. Thermostat has been changed.

Is it the Degas bottle? There is no crack in it that I can tell.
 
You won't be able to see the cracks unless you remove the bottle. Even then they are difficult to see. As the cooling system gets warm, the cacks expand allowing air to enter and coolant to leak. There could be cracks anywhere in your cooling system. All of the parts are made of plastic and will break over time. The cracks allow air to enter the cooling system and causes the car to overheat. Without being there I can't say its your degas bottle but its most often the problem. I believe napa bottles are made by Dorman, which are junk. The threads go bad notallowing the 16psi cap to seal correctly.
 
All of the aftermarket ones are Dorman. There's only one available. The different chains just have different markups and may sell under a house brand.
 
oddball said:
All of the aftermarket ones are Dorman. There's only one available. The different chains just have different markups and may sell under a house brand.
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That's what I figured. I have used the Napa bottle and the OEM cap didn't fit so I figured it was made by Dorman.
 
Ok I need help. It has the Dorman Bottle, Its was overheating just when Heat was cut on. I took it to 1 Ford Dealer, they bled with vacuum system and it did ok for 4 days with and without heat on. Then while sitting idling it started to overflow coolant out again 4 days later. I went Back to Ford dealer they said get a new cap. I got new cap and they bled again today.

Then on way home it started to creep overheating again. I called Dealer and asked if aftermarket bottle could be problem. They said they vacuum and pressure tested and there was not lost of pressure, no leak showing up anywhere and NO pressure loss as if, if there was no problem with bottle.

So anyone have a good idea what the problem is?????When it overheats, it boils the fluid out the Degas overflow nipple up top. Arrrrrrrrrah!

Also Thermostat was replaced about 3 months ago. Advanced auto one. I went all summer with no problem, until heat is cut on!

Water pump maybe, but its fine "IF I Don't cut the Damm heat on over 85-90 degrees.
 
The Dorman bottles are known to be a problem. Replace it with Motorcraft (yes, they fail but they are okay for five years or more normally). Also, if the thermostat housing and engine cap haven't been replaced, those need to be replaced too. Next suspects are the upper and lower radiator hoses. The crossover pipe should be replaced as well. It's also possible that the DCCV has a leak.
You are getting air into the cooling system somehow. Those parts are all good suspects and should be replaced every few years anyhow.
Remaining possibilities:
Have you let it overheat to the red on the gauge? How many times? It's very rare, but you could have blown your head gasket or warped the heads. A hydrocarbon test on the coolant would confirm or rule this out.
Have you ever used stop-leak on this car?
 
Ok but if any of those other cooling system parts you listed are cracked or have a leak (ex. hoses, DCCV, Degas( wouldn't the system test at the Ford dealer, of pressue testing, the coolant system detect the loss of pressure or leak? I think he said he had it up to 30psi.

I drove all summer and a recent 4 hours trip with no problem. Would not have mattered if if it was Cracked Head and/or head gasket correct. Only when heat is on does it boil over. Sometimes.
 
jgscott said:
Ok but if any of those other cooling system parts you listed are cracked or have a leak (ex. hoses, DCCV, Degas( wouldn't the system test at the Ford dealer, of pressue testing, the coolant system detect the loss of pressure or leak? I think he said he had it up to 30psi...
Click to expand...

In my experience (which did surprise me), no. I've done tests at different pressures and temperatures trying to find a leak that I knew was there. I just wanted to see exactly where it was. It would not leak for me. It would only leak while driving. I hate replacing parts without certainty too, but at this point, what other alternatives do you have?

Replace car?
Replace parts?
Live with it?
 
hite337 said:
you can lead a horse to water...
Click to expand...

I'm just relaying what the Ford/Lincoln service Tech said to me. You would think they could detect a Damm leak in a Cooling system for $90 per hour, at least. They keep telling me, that there is No problem with none of those parts. Go Figure..... I appreciate all the advise tho.

I appreciate the advise tho. Even tho this problem with this car does not make sense.

And remember there is NO rundown or evidence of a leak anywhere. Only a backflowing Degas bottle.
 
Judging by the fact that you have a Dorman degas tank, that is more than likely your problem. Use OEM parts and avoid problems.

Now as previously stated by numerous LVC members... Noone can pin point your cooling system fault. The entire system is composed of plastic. This plastic gets old and brittle.

Personally I would spend the $130-$160 on a Motorcraft degas tank and install it. I as well as many other members here are more than willing to guide you through the work, but the biggest part about the job is actually doing it. You can talk about doing it forever, but you gotta do it.

Get your new degas tank, we will help you get it in and bleed the system properly (assuming you can follow directions). Then go from there. If you still have overheating issues, then you should replace all of your cooling plastics and seals.

Even if you have no problems after installing a new degas tank, they will eventually arise. All the plastics tend to fail at the same interval. Be prepared. Good luck.
 
Get a Motorcraft cap with the new bottle, too. The dorman bottle is ever so slightly different, so a dorman cap doesn't work on a motorcraft bottle and vice versa.
So if you have a motorcraft cap on the dorman bottle, then it'll leak. One way or another.
 
Well Thanks to all for your helpful post.

UPDATE: I replaced the cap on the existing NAPA Degas Bottle.With a Ford Dealer Motorcraft cap. I just came back from a 10+ hour 2 day round trip. About 8 hours highway driving 50-90 mph. And Rush hour traffic about 1 and 1/2 hours of stop and go. No problem with overheating at all. Looked everywhere I parked and idled and saw no fluid leak.

Only thing I noticed was not very warm air coming from Driver bottom side lower accelerator leg area air was blowing kinda cool.

I am still going to replace Cooling system hoses, thermostat, and Degas Bottle, I am also starting to wonder about the DCCV?

And OH Coolant level when I checked a few times both cold and hot were not overflowing.
 
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