New Radiator Time

[RobH]

Looks like the radiator is leaking, small pool of fresh coolant underneath and bottom left corner about 1 inch square is wet, can't really see from picture
Hose looks OK and rad is scabby so think it needs replacing, any reason to go for the thicker one over the standard rad?

[Ian Hulley]

£8 more more expensive for this thicker (i.e. better) 2.1/TD radiator which also fit's the 1.9 petrol.

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... etrol.html

Ian

[AdrianC]

any reason to go for the thicker one over the standard rad?

If the price difference is as small as Ian says, then it's probably more a case of "any reason not to?". Thicker rad will cool better. 99% of the time, that'll make no difference. It'll mean your fan's on for a bit less time and a bit less often. Which'll mean if the fan should be on but isn't, because either the fan or switch has died, you've got a lower risk of cooking the engine.

[California Dreamin]

Carparts4less £70.40 after using Promo Code....and that includes FreePost.

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/V ... 533&000261


Martin

[RobH]

Cheers, just ordered that one, now wondering whether to fit it myself or get the garage to do it.

[edoh]

to give you an idea of what it involves

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... w_radiator

[California Dreamin]

I reckon you could do this yourself. However, I'm presuming that you would access from underneath so you will need the van up on axle stands after removing upper & lower grilles, drop & remove the spare wheel and carrier, clamp off all the pipes/pull off and tuck out the way. (I wouldn't expect you to loose much coolant, just what's in the radiator itself..perhaps 2 litres) Not sure whether you would take off the fan and it's cowling before dropping.....unfasten the top mounts, pull off the thermo switch plug (front lower right), lift up then backwards from the bottom.

Refit in reverse......now I reckon you could reconnect the pipes but leave them clamped off then re-fill through the bleed hole (OK it's going to take 10 minutes filling through that small hole but it's all but going to eliminate the whole bleed process as all you are doing is getting rid of the air in the radiator itself..50:50 mix)
Check the thermo switch is working when everything is in and refilled.

I don't normally comment on things I haven't done 'recently' myself and I may be wrong about removal root...but it isn't going to be much different.

Martin

[billy739]

good chance to do the 2 yearly antifreeze change

look at the service history its probably due now anyhow

[California Dreamin]

Indeed....unless 5 year long life (purple/pink/orange) stuff in their.

Martin

[billy739]

yep
I always like to see if the OP comes back with that answer!

[RobH]

G12 pink in it only been in about 7 months due to the brickwerks stainless front to back pipes being fitted. Also got a tiny leak at the back somewhere

[California Dreamin]

Obviously worth attempting to kill two birds with one stone if you can and cure the engine leak at the same time.

Martin