Radiator Recommendations

[piefacemate]

Guys,

Could do with some advice please. I've got a few overheating issues as you might well know and as such I could do with a bigger radiator to prolong my bouts of lunacy.

I'm hoping to join in a PH run in Wales (see North West forum if you're interested, previous ones around Manchester were great fun) in two weeks time, and would ideally like to have something fitted by then. It's important that the MX5 continues to punch above it's weight with the Porsches and Astons and having my car pack up in a cloud of steam kinda ruins it all.

So, my question to the PH massive, what radiators would you recommend? Flyin' Miata's £400 one or so is too expensive for me to justify, but I'm sure i've seen others about that will do the job at least partially well. I'm happy to fit myself, but ideally need something I can get hold of in two weeks, so no slow boat from the Land of the Rising Sun please.

Cheers,

Chris

[b4bby]

The mk1 1.8 automatic radiators are a little larger than the normal 1.8's and i believe they fit other models.

If you were to look you may find one im selling on ebay.

If you dont fancy that i bought a alloy one in a group buy on mx5 nutz forum, My cars got a jrsc and its been running cool every since fitting.

Could be worth checking out on there if theres any left?

[Mark_S_24]

I recently replaced mine when it sprang a leak, with one of these.
Fleabay Item: 230488819979

I would suggest there may be other issues you need to look into as to why it's overheating, unless you have obvious radiator damage.

Mark S
(Mk1 Eunos Turbo)

[piefacemate]

Thanks will have a look at the eBay listing and Nutz.

The car's overheating because it's turbocharged and I don't like to spare the horses

Should have probably specified: There's no damage to my radiator and I'm looking to increase the radiator's capacity by upgrading. The car will ultimatly be going on the track.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Do you have an oil-cooler? I've found that makes more of a diference than the rad. Unless you have cooling problems, if you are overheating the coolant chances are the oil temps are sky high too!
Before I fitted the FM Twincooler I used to get very high oil temps but it never looked like overheating the coolant. Now I get good consistent oil temps and more coolant cooling capacity and I can thrash it on track without worrying about any temps

[piefacemate]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Do you have an oil-cooler? I've found that makes more of a diference than the rad. Unless you have cooling problems, if you are overheating the coolant chances are the oil temps are sky high too!
Before I fitted the FM Twincooler I used to get very high oil temps but it never looked like overheating the coolant. Now I get good consistent oil temps and more coolant cooling capacity and I can thrash it on track without worrying about any temps

An oil cooler is definitely on the shopping list, but I've heard they're a dog to fit and so was leavnign it till later. I'm hoping to go on a trash about Wales with the car in 2 weeks and didn't think a DIY fitting of a cooler would happen in time!

[Mark_S_24]

I have no overheating issues with my standard radiator even when I track it.
I have a GReddy Turbo running about 5-6 PSI

I have Turn Signal Air intakes and have a home made shield to keep the heat from the Turbo awawy from the intake. I've also wrapped the manifold in heat wrap. And thats with a Front Mounted Intercooler.

So if you're running higher boost then a bigger rad might be your interim fix. But if you have a low pressure setup I'd have a look at other stuff. Have you flushed out the rad recently etc? Make sure you have no air locks, and bang that heater up, you'll need it with the roof off :-)

HTH
Mark

[piefacemate]

Mark_S_24 said:

I have no overheating issues with my standard radiator even when I track it.
I have a GReddy Turbo running about 5-6 PSI

I have Turn Signal Air intakes and have a home made shield to keep the heat from the Turbo awawy from the intake. I've also wrapped the manifold in heat wrap. And thats with a Front Mounted Intercooler.

So if you're running higher boost then a bigger rad might be your interim fix. But if you have a low pressure setup I'd have a look at other stuff. Have you flushed out the rad recently etc? Make sure you have no air locks, and bang that heater up, you'll need it with the roof off :-)

HTH
Mark

Cheers Mark. It's not a low boost setup, it's running 12PSI and I also have turn signal intakes (thought I suspect they do naff all)

I haven't flsuhed the radiator recently, which I admit would probably help, but I suspect a larger radiator will still be needed in the long term.

And the roof will most definitely be down... but considering there's a big hole in the back window, it makes very little difference!

[jay140285]

I have been running my standard rad for a couple of months with the car running at 200bhp and intercooled,

That rad did spring a leak so I got a alloy 52mm core one, althought i didnt have any over heating issues before, things are a bit cooler now.

there is a current sale on nutz at the moment with some due it this months, Failing that PM Mark @ OnlyMX5ives on there, I think he has some in stock. thats who I got mine off.

[piefacemate]

Cheers Jay, sent him a PM. The nutz lot looked as though it'd sold out, but we'll see.

Thanks for everyones help so far!

[MrFlibbles]

I'm running a Japspeed one on mine. Inexpensive and seems decent quality. Also running a seperate oil cooler though, but have never had any overheating issues since fitted.

[NiceCupOfTea]

If you're on a budget I'd be tempted to try the automatic rad. Definitely give the cooling system a damn good flush. The coolant was black in mine when I changed the rad, and it took a flush with some Holts stuff plus about 4 or 5 flushes with water to get it running clear. Make sure you're using battery water or something, using the crappy hard water we have here in the SE will scale it up in no time.

[piefacemate]

Found an eBay special that did the job, £140 all in. Just the gearbox that's overheating now!