bwilk

iTrader: (1)

Here is my not so technical review of the RX8Performance Air Separator Tank.

Disclaimers up top:
I don't know if this fits in the "Performance Parts" area, but definitely the "Aftermarket". I'm a backyard mechanic at best, so I typically like to buy stuff I can safely wrench on. I can't fab worth a damn, though it's something I'd love to try to get into. Apologies for the size and quality of the pictures, cell phones can only do so much in dark places.

I bought the AST for the purpose of getting a dress-up part that would replace my aging and badly yellowed stock tank. The added bonus is that aluminum probably won't crack unless I crumple the car.

There's not really much to this part, it's a tank with hose attachments. I opted for the slightly more expensive version with a level sensor as I really wanted to get rid of what my wife calls the "birdcage" warning light. This is actually one of the sources of my criticisms. Pictured below is everything I got with the kit. Please ignore the OBD2 mounting bracket and one bundle of zap straps, those are additional.



I personally like the aesthetic of the tank. It's basically just a round tank with a flat ends. It's small so it doesn't appear massive in the engine bay. It's functional, not flashy.

It works as intended. It holds coolant, gets mounted and fits in the stock placement, and the level sensor works once wired in. In order to test, I checked the dashlight before I filled the tank with coolant and after, and it did switch off the light.

On to my criticisms, of which there are only a few.

1.)I had to drill out the mounting bracket slightly (1 step over with a step drill bit) to get the clearance to have the mounting bracket fit on the mounting bolts. It would be nice if those holes were slotted to acommodate for variations between cars.

2.)There are some tooling marks on the main part of the tank. They're small and I don't know if they're easy to see with my pictures. They're pretty clearly some sort of vise or jig marks from when the part was being assembled. It's a nitpick, but for a part that is partially a dress-up part, this counts for a little. There was also a burr one of the welds. It's not sharp so I left it alone. Pictured below. Neither of these are something I can't live with, but I'm also not a show judge, nor am I building a show car.



EDIT: Scott gave me a call and explained the reasoning behind the orientation elaborated in my next comment in this thread

Revision

3.)This is perhaps my biggest concern with the product. As you can see in the picture, the AST switches the direction that the overflow nozzle is pointing (now drains on the ecu box side, rather than the intake side). This doesn't strike me as a huge issue if it wasn't for the fact that the level sensor is on the same side, directly beneath the drain (if using the stock drain hose). The connection to the sensor is made by using basic slip fit terminals. I don't know how coolant proof, or corrosion proof these connections are, but this strikes me as a place for failure.



If I was speaking to Scott directly, I would propose 2 solutions. The first being easy, simply switch the way the overflow nozzle is pointing back to the stock orientation. The second is to use a level sensor that has a waterproof pigtail that could be butt connected, rather than terminal connected. To be fair, I don't know if that exists. If it does, why not do both?

This could be sorted out on the customer end by using a non-stock hose, and cutting to a length that drains below the sensor or directing the overflow away. I didn't have a longer hose, so I rotated the stock hose so that it's pointed slightly away from the sensor. Unfortunately I don't have a battery box, so it is possible that this will be spraying my battery with overflow coolant. I'll probably end up replacing the hose once I have a chance to buy the appropriate diameter hose.


TL;DR
The RX8Performance AST fulfills all my needs, at what I think is a reasonable price. I like the aesthetic although I do have a few nitpicks. I would make some small design changes and perhaps spend a little more time on finishing.

Looks : 4/5 - Minor finishing issues
Design: 3.5/5 - Found what seems like it could be a long term reliability issue with the overflow nipple orientation and its relation to the installed level sensor
Build Quality: 4/5 - Overall it seems well constructed, the welds may not be the most beautiful welds ever done, but they work
Function: 5/5 - Does exactly what it's advertised to do.


EDIT: Please see my comment below for a slightly revised review.
Revision

BigBadChris

iTrader: (4)

Nice write up, bwik. I have had mine installed for about nine months. It worked well for eight months, but now the level sensor is acting funny. The connections appear to be in good shape (my engine builder was kind enough to cut off the factory harness and heat shrink it all back together). Will be interested to see how yours holds up.

Update: Spoke to Scott and he agreed to take a look at the tank and see what the issue is. Now I gotta find my original plastic tank so I can keep driving the car.

bwilk

iTrader: (1)

With regards to my criticism above:
Scott called and explained the reasoning behind why the overflow spout is the way it is. I've left the review as is for the sake of posterity with some minor revisions to point to this comment. I'll paraphrase the jist of it.

This is a design choice in order to correct an issue with the stock orientation that has the overflow fall on the fan assembly and associated connections which was leading to power steering failures. The intention was that the end user attaches an extra length of hose (ie non-stock) and routes it so that it drain harmlessly onto the undertray.

I twigged this on my own in the later paragraphs when mentioning a way to fix it on the customer end. It just turns out that was the intention all along.

With that in mind, I would only like to say that it would be nice inclusion to have a bit of hose included in the kit.

My revised TL;DR review:

TL;DR
The RX8Performance AST fulfills all my needs, at what I think is a reasonable price. I like the aesthetic although I do have a few nitpicks.

Looks : 4/5 - Minor finishing issues
Design: 5/5 - Functional over flashy, small so it's unobtrusive in the engine bay.
Build Quality: 4/5 - Overall it seems well constructed, the welds may not be the most beautiful welds ever done, but they work
Function: 5/5 - Does exactly what it's advertised to do.

AreAxeAte

iTrader: (1)

Looks good! You'll have to do a radiator review for Dan too ; )

bwilk

iTrader: (1)

I'm holding that review hostage till I get a ride in his car

Boneill14

Nice review. Some good things to know if I ever get my AST with fan control relays I ordered from Scott over 3 months ago now. Surprised he even took time to talk to you about some of the stuff you said, I can seem to get an honest answer out of this guy.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

The question is; why are you sitting around being played for three months?

bwilk

iTrader: (1)

I understand and empathize with the sentiment here. If you have an issue with his customer service, there is a forum for that. I can only speak to my experience, not others. There is both a good guy and a bad guy thread for Scott, and you are more than welcome to voice your opinion in the appropriate thread there. I don't think it's particularly on topic in this thread, but I also have no means to stop you from doing it here.

Before I ever spent any money on RX8Performance parts, I read through the good/bad guy threads and contacted Scott directly. I was leery at the time as I didn't have much to spend on my car, but he seemed to be the only guy making what I wanted at the time (the aluminum undertray). The interaction was a bit terse, but he did respond and assuaged my worries. And it wasn't like I had much choice. That is about as negative as I'm willing to go here. Scott has always done right by me, and I don't think it's fair for me to cast aspersions on anyone else's experience with him. That is not at all my intention. I don't mean to detract from those experiences in any way, only to relate my own.

Finally, there are several other options for ASTs available on the market, so if the experience has soured you, I'd suggest giving them a look while pursuing a refund. Though I don't know of any with the fan relays, that's probably more my ignorance than a lack of product/solution. Particularly, Pettit racing sells 3 different versions, and Texas Rotary also sells a Moreoso version. Those are the two others I know off the top of my head and I'm sure there's a few more out there. I have no experience with either of those vendors, but plenty on the forum do. I genuinely hope that helps.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

https://www.rx8club.com/good-guy-bad...7/#post4910288