I've started doing a few track days and during the last one, I noticed that when I pulled in to swap seats with my instructor, there was some steam and a little fluid spitting out of the coolant overflow.

The temps and gauges all checked out fine, so we continued on with me driving much less exuberantly than the instructor (who also tracked a mini). This was in January, so I can't imagine August in Texas being any better.

After session, hubby checked out everything and it doesn't appear that the tank is cracked anywhere. We've had no issues since then with it either.

Is this a common thing for mini's on track? Throw up any red flags for anyone?



I'm planning on doing a flush and going with some type of water wetter rather than anti-freeze since I will continue to do track days... and if needed, can do one of the various metal overflow tanks at that time.

 

The water overflow tank seeks its own level. If you overfill it, it will just push out the excess. Mine liked it just less than half full. At the bottom of the joint between the upper and lower half. If you check level and it is empty, you have a problem.

Get a metal overflow tank if this is mainly a track car.

 

what is the advantage of the metal overflow tank ?

 

Won't split like the plastic one eventually will....