Protect your engine.

[DJ.]

After hearing of a destroyed engine this year due to rapid coolant loss, I decided to try and guard against this by fitting a header tank with low level warning sensor.

First, I searched eBay for a small header tank with sensor built in, I needed a large bore hose connection at the bottom and a small breather connection at the top. For my Caterham, one from a Mk1 Skoda Fabia seemed ideal, and a Febi part was less than £15, although I had to spend another £5 on a cap.

Installation on each kit will be different, but I found this video very useful for the electronic sensor circuitry here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgyy-ds7nNw

I bought the Peugeot sensor in his video, and the way it works is the terminals each end are earth and a live feed switched on with the ignition. The centre connection needs a live feed from the warning led (also switched with ignition) and the circuit shorts this to earth after a few seconds delay (stops warning light flashing as the coolant slops around) once the header tank empties.

Here are some photos of my installation, here is the aluminium bracket which has the Peugeot sensor cable tied to it:

[DJ.]

And here with the header tank fitted, I still had to improve the hose position after these photos were taken.

[Wingco]

Looks like a great idea Duncan, any advance warning or early warning of issues works for me. Hope you don't ever need it but hope it works if you do.

[Weathers]

Good idea Duncan. Hopefully never needed but a nice “just in case”.

[SJLB]

Neat idea Duncan

[greenwoo]

nice one Duncan, i smiled when i read this - as i joked about lifting the bonnet on the Kuga (to find the battery) to a pal who owns a garage and I quote;
'Ever thought of checking the oil and water when you did that' err, no i didn't

[DJ.]

You're not alone Mark, most car owners don't even know where the bonnet release is.

I do a lot of winter servicing, and check the tyre pressures, brake/clutch fluid, oil and water levels regularly, but I still had to fit a clutch master cylinder in a hotel car park in May!

It wouldn't cost Caterham much to fit this, I spent only £30 (as the aluminium came from a failed Radtec radiator) but they can't even be bothered to fit an oil pressure warning light. Both mods hardly cost anything, but could save thousands particularly if you've had your engine tuned.

[Fury1630]

Ah yes - but those thousands would most likely be spent at Caterham, so they've no incentive

[DJ.]

Ah yes - but those thousands would most likely be spent at Caterham, so they've no incentive

Cynical but most likely true
It's the lack of oil pressure light that makes me cross, anyone who thinks they'll save their engine by noticing the oil pressure needle drop on track is living in la la land.

[Weathers]

Ah yes - but those thousands would most likely be spent at Caterham, so they've no incentive

Cynical but most likely true
It's the lack of oil pressure light that makes me cross, anyone who thinks they'll save their engine by noticing the oil pressure needle drop on track is living in la la land.

Totally agree. Because if for example it drops mid corner you’ll not looking at needles. I’ve got various alarms set on my dash. Not only pressures but temps too.