Radiator bolt advice please

[Gary.pb]

After finally getting my engine back in after fixing a snapped head stud I was really happy to here it fire up almost first time. I then went about warming the engine up so I could bleed the water system on my DG. All was going well until I loosened the bolt on the top of the radiator a little too much and it popped out and went straight down a drain

What I need to know is do I need a special bolt to replace it or is a standard m6 bolt ok. Im only assuming its an m6 by guessing from the size of the hole in the rad, it may well be a different diameter so I would be grateful of and advice.

Soooo annoying!!! I thought it was all going a little bit too well, something was bound to go wrong

[Ian Hulley]

do I need a special bolt to replace it or is a standard m6 bolt ok.

Stainless M6 x 12mm if I recall.

Ian

[AdrianC]

Don't think it's stainless on ours. (Stainless'll give you extra rust protection, of course, but it shouldn't rust, because you should have coolant in there, of course...)

A fibre or copper washer on it will help it to seal. I've just had to replace the bleed screw on the Shogun - managed to gently knock the head the other day whilst changing the alternator - and the head came clean off, leaving the thread in the casting. And with a gentle weep up the thread... <gnash of teeth>

I've seen bleed screws on other cars with a groove cut up the shaft, stopping just shy of the head - means you don't need to fully remove the bolt to bleed it. Nice idea.

[Gary.pb]

I did notice from looking online earler that the diesel engines have a 7mm bleed nipple on top of the radiator. It does state diesel only in the heritage brochure so im assuming it is no good for my dg. Im going to fit a new bolt tomorrow and try bleeding the system again.

Cheers for the advice guys

[itchyfeet]

Just checked my old rad for you an its m8 x 12

[Gary.pb]

Just checked my old rad for you an its m8 x 12

Thanks for that, you just saved me a wasted trip in the morning. I was planning on raiding my dads garage tomorrow for an m6
I can well imagine the words I would be muttering when I drove back home to find an m6 is too small. Now I can 'borrow' the correct size bolt and hopefully get the van back on the road tomorrow

[itchyfeet]

A quick measure of the hole would have told you m6 was too small m7 is not really used so m8 could be assumed

[Ian Hulley]

Just checked my old rad for you an its m8 x 12

Good move .... I knew it was a 13mm spanner as well

[kevtherev]

Do not overtighten the treaded hole is just a brass insert in a plastic housing.

[Fin]

Do you not have a magnet, then you could retrieve it?

[itchyfeet]

Do you not have a magnet, then you could retrieve it?

Possibly not if it was stainless steel

[Plasticman]

chineese SS has been known to be magnetic
mm

[itchyfeet]

Yes which is why I said possibly

I'm amazed a thread about a rad bleed bolt has so much much interest

[Plasticman]

nah, were all tired of commercial xmas.and an in depth discussion on the merits of steel v brass v ss and such has not been had before
mm

[itchyfeet]

Generally stainless 304 is more likely to be magnetic than 306 but even magnetic cheapo stainless may not have enough magnetism to be hauled out of a drain with a magnet
Is a real dilemma because a new m8x 12 hex head bolt is unlikely to be purchased singularly so you have the choice of m8 x 16 pk off 100 at screw fix £4.35 of a Magnetic stick at the £1 shop