Reservoir Overflow Missing

[packrat]

Ok. So after much searching the site, I can't seem to run across anyone who has covered this yet.
This morning i went out to start my 94 tsi as usual to go to work. After about 10 minutes and she was up to temp i revved her up to back out, and got the usual puff of oil related smoke that is typical on high humidity mornings.
Then I noticed the temp gauge was a little high, (around the P) and killed the car and popped the hood...the reservoir tank was missing! Gone. Poof. No more. Yeah ask how that one happened? *Shrug* Luckily I had a spare in my trunk (I carry lots of spare parts with me now...little trick I learned from running Nissans...)
So I placed the new overflow tank in, dropped some coolant in there, and fired her back up. She started off at normal temp, then after about a mile got up to the H line (Not the red bar), and I shut her off. Waited for her to cool down a bit, vented the coolant system (Which was shooting steam into the reservoir). Fired her back up (no smoke out exhaust) got her back home and shut her off.
Just to be sure here, (because I'm panicking), I have to bleed the system due to air having gotten sucked in more than likely over night correct? (I'm assuming the bottle fell out during the last few miles of my commute yesterday ### I noticed nothing wrong with the coolant then).
Before I left in my other car, I fired her up just to be sure, and I still saw no smoke in the exhaust, and the car was running just fine...albeit hot.
So I should go home and just bleed the coolant system and stop freaking out...right?
Rat

(side note: Thermostat/Water Pump/Thermo Housing/upper/lower hose/radiator - Have all been replaced, fans were working, heater was blowing cold - hence why i assume air bubbles, saw something similar on my nissan...just checking with those familiar with dsms).

 

[DynastyLCD]

could have either a restriction somewhere in the cooling system, possibly a stuck thermostat, air pocket in the system... and on the bad end of things, a head gasket issue. start by bleeding out the cooling system again, make sure you purge all of the air out, and see if that helps you!

also, check to see if both of the heater core hoses are warm, this would tell if there's a restriction somewhere.

 

[Talyn]

could have either a restriction somewhere in the cooling system, possibly a stuck thermostat, air pocket in the system... and on the bad end of things, a head gasket issue. start by bleeding out the cooling system again, make sure you purge all of the air out, and see if that helps you!

also, check to see if both of the heater core hoses are warm, this would tell if there's a restriction somewhere.

Not likely that it is a HG, there would almost certainly be smoke(white=coolant btw), most likely he has a thermostat sticking closed(I suspect this may have caused abnormal pressure possibly explaining why his overflow tank bailed), or possibly an air pocket. Could also be a water pump, but the former 2 are more likely, and water pumps typically start leaking slowly before going bad completely.

Try bleeding it first, if it has bleeder fittings(idk if these things do or not, I am new to DSMs) crack them loose, and run it till you see straight coolant flowing, with no interruptions, or if no bleeder fittings, simply remove the radiator cap and run it till you stop seeing bubbles in the top of the radiator.
If it still does it, pick up a thermostat for $7-20, and drop it in, its cheap and easy to do, and even if its not bad, good insurance, but I give 95% odds its an air pocket or a sticking thermostat, start with the former since its a free fix, and move to the latter if its still overheating.
And just to verify, there are no leaks correct? Because my above information is assuming no leaks.

 

[NHerron]

Well you loose your overflow and you'll run low on coolant. When the engine gets up to temp it pukes out probably 1/3qt of coolant into the overflow and when the system cools off, it draws that coolant back in from the overflow tank. So with the overflow tank gone, it just pukes out coolant and never gets it back. Then ya got an air pocket. I would top it off and see just how much it took. And keep an eye on the level everyday after it's cooled off

 

[crazyquik22023]

Overflow tank disappearing...that's definitely the first time I ever heard that one If you have the new overflow on..make sure its secure this time, Bleed/burp the system, and top off with water/coolant. As NHerron said above, you probably lost quite a bit when your engine was running with no overflow.

 

[NHerron]

Haha actually my retarded a$$ lost my cheapo reservoir the other day. I had a BFC Monster drink as a recovery tank kinda dangling above the transmission for a temporary spot and was doing some tuning late at night. I would make a couple runs along the road and turn around in this certain spot, one of the times I saw a monster can on the side of the road and thought to myself "What dick litters like that? A big can like that, just right out the window!"

Go to pop the hood after I get home and seen it was -no- longer there. I know I know, wow how did I not figure it out earlier

 

[StarFawkes]

I agree with NHerron. Top off coolant in your radiator and fill overflow tank to full line. Our cooling systems burp themselves. If you still run hot after that then there is another issue but start with the simple stuff first.

 

[packrat]

Hey guys! thanks for the responses! Yeah...it was a hatorade bottle...it was secure for 12k miles? wooops....Anywho I replaced it with a stock one, burped the system (Took about half of one of those containers of prestone), checked for milky oil, no issues. No smoke, Temp sits squarely btwn the T/E now on the temp gauge. *whew* Crisis Averted. But the note about what happens if the bottle does "disappear" is good to have on the forum, couldn't find that before, and now it's here. It's also good to note actually where to kill the engine when you see a temp spike. I always have in my head, never let it get to red...but it can be specific to each kind of car/system.
So now we know. And knowing is half the battle.
Rat \m/