Alloy Rads - Should I give up?

[mentall]

Thanks for the advice, Mike. Here's the corpse:



I can't see how to identify and access the leaking joints; either to attempt to solder, or to seal otherwise. The core is 50mm thick, and the joints are recessed behind the flange on the tank. And the fins fall apart if you look at them.
I think my first instinct was right: recore or new rad. I'm in a money-saving mood (just bought a scissor-lift!) but I don't think I have much hope of improving this rad.
So the question is the same as the OP's: new alloy rad, or recore?

[v8s4me]

mentall said:

..... didn't lose any measurable water during my three weeks of more-or-less successful motoring, but does show stains and drips (oo-er!).....

Leave it alone then (and maybe so as Mike suggests with sealant)

My old copper one is now with a local repair firm and they will make a new bottom plate if they can't source one from the core supplier. If anyone does have an old bottom plate though, either serviceable or scrap to use a template, please let me know.

The re-core cost will be the same as a replacement rad deal, so it's time to go back to "old-skool"

[phillpot]

mentall said:

Here's the corpse:

I know my limits, time to call in the professonals

[v8s4me]

mentall said:

...... Here's the corpse....

I didn't realise it was that bad!

mentall said:

....So the question is the same as the OP's: new alloy rad, or recore?

Re-core at £200 or a fragile, limited life-span alloy one for £400? No-brainer

[mentall]

Not quite: fragile alloy racing rad at £161 delivered, or recore at £198 to £270 depending on what they think of the corpse.
Perhaps a small-brainer?

[Ceejay73]

mentall said:

Not quite: fragile alloy racing rad at £161 delivered, or recore at £198 to £270 depending on what they think of the corpse.
Perhaps a small-brainer?

John, the Japspeed rad that you linked above is the exact one I fitted to my S3, works very well, cannot comment on reliability or longevity of life though as it's only been back on the road a couple of weeks.
I only paid about £115 for mine (auction) so was a no brainer to give it a go.

Regards,
Carl.

eta.. If it does turn out to be a fragile rad and only lasts 12 months then I will go back original with a recore of the brass/copper item.
In anwser to the original question, if I had spent about a grand on radiators in the last 6 years, (did the first one die in an incident or just fail?), then I would be looking for something else too.
Cheers, Carl.

Edited by Ceejay73 on Wednesday 17th August 18:10

[v8s4me]

TurboTony said:

Joe..Does the alloy rad really give you any cooling benefits? ...

I'm not convinced it does. The fans seem to be on a lot of the time.

[AutoAndy]

I am sure I had a repair done to a std rad by National Radiators relatively cheaply... Depends if the guy out back is an old boy who knows his stuff... Worth an enquiry

Or sit fix... Crack an egg into the system... What could go wrong...?

In answer to Joes original post title... Yes you should