???upside down radiator???

[jt]

My S1.5/S2 is in for a service at the moment (the first since I bought it). The garage have told me the radiator was upside down (bleed valve on the bottom) and have swapped it round. Is this normal on S series cars? I've done over 3000 miles in three months with no mechanical problems at all so i was a little annoyed that it was changed without asking me.

any thoughts?

jake

[Pies]

bleed at the top,there is usually no drain on the S rad

[JT]

strange though, I wonder why it was put that way round in the first place.

IF IT AINT BROKE...

[tvrgit]

As pies says, the rad is fitted with a bleed screw at the top, not a drain plug at the bottom.

In the original fit (sherpa van) the rad is much lower than the header tank so air locks less likely, so they put the drain screw in the bottom.

In the TVR they turn it over because there the radiator is only slightly lower than the header so you need to be able to bleed air bubbles out.

Your garage have therefore turned it upside down from the way TVR intended it - it'll probably still work, but you might be struggling to get rid of airlocks. Airlocks make the car more prone to overheating.

[GreenV8S]

As tvrgit says, it'll work but you *will* end up with airlocks in the rad and no way to shift them. I suggest you tell them to put it back (at their expense since you didn't authorize the work) and put them straight about making other design changes without your approval.

[Roy C]

Bleed valve should be top near side.

[F908 Tim]

If I was jt I would be confused by now!
The bleed valve is at the top,nearside.In front of the Airflow meters
So I read this that your garage has got it correct by changing it.

[Roy C]

Bleed valve must be at the top to bleed air from the system - it wouldn't work upsidedown.

Mind you, it is a TVR!

[V8Smith]

I hear what you are saying Tim, if the original post is correct (bleed valve at the top) the garage has got it right!

Mike

[tvrgit]

Em - yes... the original post is not very clear but it does look as if they have changed it so that it's now right! (ie bleed valve top nearside)

Sorry!

[jt]

hi folks, I've just checked: the valve is at the top near the air filter (passanger side). It seems to be running ok, slightly hotter than before but still just below the 90 oc line. I assume this is ok?

jake

[Pies]