Radiator removal...any hints?

[MrChips]

Not a happy bunny tonight. 400miles into running in the new engine, and I have a minor coolant leak. Checked the new hose connections and all dry, and just cant see where it's leaking from. I don't want to dump a load of radweld into it so going to unbolt the radiator and have a look.

Looking at it, it should just be bonnet off, then 2 bolts to take the whole rad housing up a little to take a look?
I want to keep it all connected so I can put some pressure into it and see if its new rad time

[m4tti]

MrChips said:

Not a happy bunny tonight. 400miles into running in the new engine, and I have a minor coolant leak. Checked the new hose connections and all dry, and just cant see where it's leaking from. I don't want to dump a load of radweld into it so going to unbolt the radiator and have a look.

Looking at it, it should just be bonnet off, then 2 bolts to take the whole rad housing up a little to take a look?
I want to keep it all connected so I can put some pressure into it and see if its new rad time

Have you got air con. I had to drill the condensor mounting screws out as they were so rusted. Which is awkward as obviously you don't want to disconnect the condensor.

The rest should undo fairly easily, there's not a massive amount of movement with the hoses connected.

[MrChips]

Hmm, that's a good point as I do have aircon (doesn't do anything tho). I have AA breakdown warranty so if it is the rad then might be able to claim on that but I just need to get a good look around it in case it's a bleed screw or something small.

[whitewolf]

Id also guess either clips need nipping up while coolant up to temp.

Are they rubber pipes? Could they be hard? So not seating/sealing well?
Jubilee clips failing?
Small nick in the pipes?

Just ideas

[m4tti]

You've just put a silicone hose Kit on with your rebuild havent you. The silicone hoses can need nipping up once the cars running. Ive done mine twice.

Have you got the car warm then parked it over some clean news paper ideally in a garge and leave it there. Just incase theres anything dropping from else where.

But for tiny radiator leaks the only way you'll diagnose it is by removing and looking for dicoloured patches on it, or appling a vacuum purge tool to the cooling system to see whether it will hold a consistant vacuum.

[MrChips]

^^ Yep, my first thought was the hoses but they're bone dry. Basically its forming a little puddle underneath the bottom edge of the radiator, near the middle. Its collecting in the fibreglass tub section and then dripping through under the car.
Even though it's not a huge leak, obviously with the new engine I dont want to take any risk at all, so going to see if I can get it recovered locally if I can sort it through my AA warranty.

[m4tti]

If waters collecting thats what I'd class as a big leak. My radiator had a very small (hard to see with your eyes) leak which when i applied vaccum to the cooling system showed up.

Is it definitely not the bottom rad hose poorly seated. If not I would just take the radiator out and replace or recore.

[Pacman1972]

Are you sure its the rad?

I had water pooling in the same place and it turned out to be excess coolant coming from the filler cap.

I'd fill up the coolant, take the bonnet off and run it from cold for about 15 mins. As the pressure builds it should become fairly obvious where its coming from.

[MrChips]

Diagnosis is complete... Leaking between the core and the outer plastic housing. impossible to see until it was pressure tested.
Just picked up a new ali rad from Racing Green so hoping to be back on the road in a few days.

[Cats]

Hi Dave
Did you change the rad yourself or did you use the AA Warranty?
I guess to use the warranty you need to get the car recovered first?
Cheers
Neil