Rad Woes

[99PBATR]

Afternoon all. I seem to be having some woes with the Ro and was looking for some advice. I have changed my rad cap twice now and the other day I noticed a small drip that looked like it was coming off the bottom hose as I was putting the car in the garage. Now bear in mind that the car was only driven about 4 miles that day. I went back to the garage last night and no further dripping but there was a load of splatter from the coolant spotting over the engine and bay.

I opened the rad to find it about a quarter full when cold. I had some issues with the car dumping coolant into the expansion tank before but no leaks visible at the time. I had Walkinshaws fully test the system and they replaced the thermostat and said they couldn't get it to dump any more water via cap or saw any leaks.

I am guessing the bottom hose is now leaking but would the car use 3/4 of the rad tank coolant in only 4 miles or does anyone think that the rad is about to s**t itself? If so is it worth replacing the rad with a standard or Mishimoto one with Mishimoto uprated hoses? Car is supercharged with a charge cooler so wondering if there is sufficient space to put in an uprated rad

[RipGMH]

Sounds like your radiator has a leak or a hose has perished, which probably is minor at the moment and needs the system to be hot to expose the leak.

Have you tried driving it since to see if you can get the fault? Then park it up on blocks or on the curb so you get under for good look.

[99PBATR]

I think it's a perished hose like you said, certainly was seeming to drip from there. I need to get it up in the air to check it soon.

[Lincsls1]

I'd personally stick with a stock radiator as well if you end up changing that.
I don't believe the aftermarket options are an absolute perfect fit and compromise has to be made somewhere.
My car doesn't suffer with its standard rad, nor did my first Ro.

[vxr2010]

there was a post on here not long ago about mishimoto radiators if that helps , on plastic rads the plastic ends tend to go , if your lucky it’s a hose or a clamp on the hose that’s not doing it’s job , so hopefully not the rad

[stevieturbo]

Could be a hose, or rad...or down to whoever installed it not doing it correctly, either over tightening or under tightening the hose, wrong clips etc etc.

[vxr2010]

The clips on mine were best described as compression clips , not like a normal jubilee that you can tighten , my one on the water pump failed .. well it was basically too loose , i just doubled it up with another jubilee clip job done

[RipGMH]

vxr2010 said:

The clips on mine were best described as compression clips , not like a normal jubilee that you can tighten , my one on the water pump failed .. well it was basically too loose , i just doubled it up with another jubilee clip job done

That’s where I’d start, by tightening all the hoses. Eliminate the quick and simple things first

[99PBATR]

Cheers all. Wise words. I will start with checking all of the hoses. My money is on either a lose hose clip or a perished bottom hose based on the fact that after I gave her a good run yesterday, there was a slight leak once I stopped, coming from the bottom hose area.

[Aitch H]

When mine went it was the plastic end on the rad, I had water splashes all over the engine as you’ve said and it ran down the rad and dropped off the bottom so it looked like a bottom hose. Hopefully you’ll be luckier than me and get away with a hose

[Capri_Ghia]

My monaro's radiator started leaking last month. It was a small split with very little fluid visible under the car. A new radiator was required.

Hope the OP has better luck and it's a perished hose.

[99PBATR]

Well after further investigation, it turns out that my rad is indeed mullered Anyone got any idea where I can get an OEM replacement one from (I assume Walkinshaws) and what a new rad costs?

[vxr2010]

Rock auto via fed ex route the price you pay includes import duty plus delivery is quick , walkinshaw , or mishimoto , the mishimoto ones seem to be fairly good , i think there was a recent post on here about some one buying one

[99PBATR]

Thanks for the feedback. The pricing on the rads on Rockauto is pretty wild varying from £80-£270 for an OEM Rad so a little confused on the one to go for as the Denso one is £93.00 and then you have the AC Delco one at £269.00. They both look identical but I assume aren't. That said my car does 1500 miles a year if its lucky, so do I need the most expensive?

I was also looking to replace the top and bottom hoses whilst I am at it too.

I'd appreciate advice from anyone that hasn't bought a Mishimoto one and stuck with OEM

[fred bloggs]

A word of advise to all as well, check the heater valve (below the abs unit) as this is plastic as well, and will crack and leak. They are cheap from aus ,like £30 all in.

[99PBATR]

Anyone bought a rad from Rockauto and if so which one did you buy as the huge price difference between them is confusing. An OEM one in the UK is almost £400 so now Im wondering do I go for a Mishimoto one as its cheaper than OEM and my car is supercharged so a bit of extra cooling wouldn't harm.....advice here guys would be appreciated

[Lincsls1]

Its only my opinion, but I'd stick to an OEM one. Yes they're expensive, but there will be zero fitment issues.
And yes they have plastic end tanks etc. but the original lasted ~15 years.
Of course extra cooling is nice, but these aren't known for running hot anyway. And yes you have a supercharger but the intercooler deals with that.

[99PBATR]

I'm sticking with OEM but also going to replace the top and bottom hoses whilst I am at it for peace of mind

[Lincsls1]

Yeah. Think I would too.