Proper Routing of overflow tube?

[n/a]

My overflow tube is missing, and I noticed that if I route it straight down, it seems way too close to the exhaust manifold which would melt it in no time.  What is the correct length and routing of the coolant overflow tank tube?  Thanks all!

[Douglas]

There shouldn't be a tube there at all.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[n/a]

So, no tube? Those German engineers wanted coolant all over the engine bay and inner fender?  I find that hard to believe as it defies logic, why would they do that?  This is one mod that I would think would be smart and useful.

[Cees Klumper]

I don't think there is a flexible overflow tube connected to the outgoing metal tube on the canister on my car either. I remember wondering about what would happen if coolant would come out here, like James notes.

Still, on the topic of "coolant contacting the exhaust" I guess this would not be too harmful: if you happen to drive through a particularly deep water puddle, water will probably splash all over the exhaust from below and just evaporate.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Douglas]

There is definitely no tube supposed to go to that upper opening on the expansion tank.

Here's a page with the factory photo that we keep getting back to:

http://www.ritzsite.demon.nl/280SL/MB280SL3.htm

I don't find that much coolant, if any, ever drips out of there. Plus there's an aluminum heat shield on the 280 SL that covers most of the exhaust manifold.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[n/a]

Thanks Douglas!  Perhaps I should just not worry about this, but, if I ever overheated, I would not be happy about a coolant mess everywhere.  Seems like a tube could be fed straight down and secured against frame rail so that overflow tube does not adhere and melt against downpipe. I wonder what others have done?

[A Dalton]

quote:Originally posted by James Soule

So, no tube? Those German engineers wanted coolant all over the engine bay and inner fender?  I find that hard to believe as it defies logic, why would they do that?  This is one mod that I would think would be smart and useful.

 I have done it..
 Tucked the bottom end behind the water drain pipe on the firewall... no clamp needed

[hands_aus]

I too have installed an overflow tube on my RHD car. It just hangs directly down and doesn't interfer with anything.
Of course the coolant tank is on the left hand side of the engine.
If I remember rightly there is a small raised ring around the end of that little copper pipe that would hold on a tube clamp.

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[German Dude]

I put in about 40 cm worth of tube and used a clamp to secure it.
I also used a cable binder somewhere on the way down - plenty of openings for that.
Not original? Well, I don't think the mess in the engine bay is original either...

Juergen
64 230SL #2933, 4sp, signal red, white hard top
93 Citroen XM station wagon