Section : Cooling

Is my Rad worth keeping

Posted By : Andrew Szczecinski, 17-Sep-2006, 07:37pm

Hi

As always its stupid question time

Took my rad off to replace all the hoses and do a flush out before winter and had a good look at the rad.
Some of the front vanes (the fine horizontal ones) around the centre of the rad are damaged and flaking away
To my knowledge the rad isn't leaking but is this a sign that the rad has had its day? I think im right in saying that these only help to cool the inner core and itÂ’s the inner core that really matters?

What i don't want to do is stick it back on, fill the system and then have to whip it all out again in a couple of months. Neither do i want to spend over Â£120 on a recon rad if i don't have to.

Words of advice much appreciated.

Andy

Followups :

Is my Rad worth keeping

Posted By : Danial Phoenix, 17-Sep-2006, 07:50pm

i paid Â£90 plus vat to get mine re cored, and they picked it and droped it off to me.

and my 2L sits at 80 never went higher.
- Is my Rad worth keeping
  
  Posted By : Dan Owen, 18-Sep-2006, 11:19am
  
  Does it overheat or run hot? If so then it's a possible cause but if not it's probably OK for a while yet. Likely to be years rather than months so don't worry overmuch! But start saving for the new rad.
  - Is my Rad worth keeping
    
    Posted By : Andrew Szczecinski, 18-Sep-2006, 12:13pm
    
    Gents
    
    Thanks for your responses.
    
    Never had a problem with overhetaing.
    
    One other thing though - should i be using something like Hylomar on the gasket that goes on the thermostat housing.
    I have never been a fan of using that sort of stuff on anything to form a gasket seal.
    Coming from a toolmaking background if the parts are machined well then a gasket should be more than adequate. However, we are talkin Triumph so am i better off slapping some on?
    
    Andy
    - Is my Rad worth keeping
      
      Posted By : Chris Taylor, 18-Sep-2006, 01:39pm
      
      While you should not need to use anything other than a gasket, I would recommend use of some blue Hylomar on things like thermostat housing, especially if the alloy faces are a little pitted (as they usually are). I say this as "it can't do any harm" and gaskets nowadays are not as resilient as they used to be (IMHO!)
      I would only use something that does NOT set solid, and only a smear so that you can't get a blob break off and obstruct a radiator tube.
      Alternatively you could be old fashioned and use a smear of grease on both sides of the gasket. This will aid sealing and help to avoid corrosion of the alloy faces.