Leaking radiator

[GR_TVR]

Hi,

My radiator appears to be leaking...I noticed some steam coming from the passenger side of the radiator the other day and have just been out to have a look. Here's some photos...





I believe this is an aluminium radiator? So the leak appears to be from the top right of the rad when looking at the front of the car - in the middle meshed (matrix?) section.

What are my options from here, and likely costs?

Thanks

[Steve_D]

See if you can find a manufacturers name and contact them.
I doubt they will be able to repair it and will just want to offer a replacement.
At that point you will need to check the market as there are a number of companies offering ali replacements.

Steve

[s3c chris]

Hi.

I had exactly the same problem a few months ago. The radiator had only done about three thousand miles.....
It is a great source of debate and I was mocked a little for saying it, but the radiator manufacturer suggested that blue antifreeze causes less problems than red in alloy radiators........

Your radiator looks the same as mine and is leaking in the same place too. I think it is a Radtec one, Powers and ACT sell them as well. Try contacting them and speak to Darren, he is very helpful and sorted mine out for me.

The general opinion though is that the brass/copper variety offer a longer life.

Regards Chris.

[GR_TVR]

Steve_D said:

See if you can find a manufacturers name and contact them.
I doubt they will be able to repair it and will just want to offer a replacement.
At that point you will need to check the market as there are a number of companies offering ali replacements.

Steve

I was scared that would be the answer. These radiators don't look cheap...!

I can't see a manufacturer on anything visible so I'll have to take a look once I've got it out the car.
Any reason that they can't be repaired? I briefly saw some American sites claiming the use of what looked like a solder type substance being applied.

[GR_TVR]

s3c chris said:

Hi.

I had exactly the same problem a few months ago. The radiator had only done about three thousand miles.....
It is a great source of debate and I was mocked a little for saying it, but the radiator manufacturer suggested that blue antifreeze causes less problems than red in alloy radiators........

Your radiator looks the same as mine and is leaking in the same place too. I think it is a Radtec one, Powers and ACT sell them as well. Try contacting them and speak to Darren, he is very helpful and sorted mine out for me.

The general opinion though is that the brass/copper variety offer a longer life.

Regards Chris.

Sorry missed this before I posted - interesting on the blue vs red antifreeze. I don't really mind what goes in so would be happy to switch whether it made a difference or not!

Thanks for the info, it certainly looks like a radtec from the photos. Can you remember if the name was stamped on the unit anywhere?

Was yours repaired or replaced in the end?

Cheers,
Gareth

[Hoofa FI SC]

I have said this before don't waste money on these Ali rads, I have gone through two in the last four years. The welds fail and they are just too fragile, nothing wrong with a standard upgraded rad. Nothing to do with antifreeze, if the rad twists or vibration causes the welds fail

[GR_TVR]

Hoofa FI SC said:

I have said this before don't waste money on these Ali rads, I have gone through two in the last four years. The welds fail and they are just too fragile, nothing wrong with a standard upgraded rad. Nothing to do with antifreeze, if the rad twists or vibration causes the welds fail

Interesting point, thanks. Can you point me in the direction of a standard rad so I can take a look?

[N7GTX]

When I start looking for a part I always start with TVR Parts Online. You can identify the correct part - usually early or late model - and the short description gives you all the info you need. I accept some of their stuff is pricey but at least you know it will fit first time without a fight. Use them as a starting point then search for cheaper ones.

I have had a TVR Powers alloy rad fitted for 2 years and no problems. There are those who knock them and then there are those who like them so you will get different opinions. Usually the fault is caused by the radiator not being fitted dead flat on new mounting bobbins. Any twist will cause premature failure.

If yours is a Radtec one, do contact the company as they seem very customer orientated.

[s p a c e m a n]

Bung a lump of jb waterweld over the hole if it's accessible?

[s3c chris]

Hi.

There was no manufacturer's name on my radiator but yours definitely looks like a Radtec one.Some people have them for years with no problem, others fail quickly, opinion is divided.

Radtec supplied me with a new one for a price I could not refuse! I thought it was good service especially as the original was fitted by the previous owner of my car. How long the new one will last I don't know but it was worth trying it.

If you go for an original style one, you will also need to get the fan mounting cowls as the Radtec one has them built in.....

Let us know how you get on, good luck, it's all part of TVR "fun"!

Regards Chris.

[GR_TVR]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'll hopefully remove it at some point this week and take it from there. Will update when I know more!

[HKGriff]

My aluminium rad sprung a leak after wallies who installed an A/C system used bolts that rubbed slowly against the rad causing a breach.

The rad was repaired and has since been fine.

Didn't want to go the route of pouring some miracle cure into the system ...

[s p a c e m a n]

Yeah the radweld stuff that you pour into the system is always the worst thing that you can do, it's virtually impossible to remove it all after it has been done too. Jb waterweld is awesome on little pinholes and cracks on an otherwise good bit of metal, it's pointless throwing away a £300 radiator if you can just roll up a bit of putty in your fingers and squeeze it over the hole.

[neal1980]

i've had 3 alloy rads and never had a problem with any of them, ran them for years.

It must be the design of that rad because its always the same make ones that I see fail.

[GR_TVR]

Got the radiator out the car today - couldn't see anything obvious and there was patches of antifreeze residue all over so hard to pinpoint where to look.

I've dropped it off at a local radiator specialist and they're going to test it and report back before the weekend.

[GR_TVR]

Just heard back from the company testing it - as expected it's leaking and can't be repaired.
Putting in a new core was in the same region as buying a new rad, plus there would be around 2 weeks or so delay, and I ideally want the car for the bank holiday!

Was just having a little browse and wondered if anyone had any opinions - from doing a bit of reading it seems our rads are derived from early discovery/classic range rovers?

So I came across this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3ROW-ALUMINUM-RADIATOR-F...
Which looks like it has the right bottom hose - I need to measure up and see if it's the same size externally but let's assume at the moment that it is.

Obviously it would need some kind of fabrication/adaptors to get the correct mounting points, but this shouldn't prove too much of a problem given I'll have an existing rad that I know fits...

The 4 holes, my idea would be to use one for an otter switch (if possible) and bung up the other 3. Worst case the otter switch on the swirl pot could be used I suppose.

So yes, any opinions? Has anyone done anything like this before, and has anyone sourced a landy rad that does indeed fit?

Cheers

[s p a c e m a n]

Too wide isn't it? Aaron radiators say that the bottom mounts are 827mm https://www.aaronradiator.co.uk/index.php?p=catalo...

The details on that ebay listing says it's 915mm. The one from Aaron radiators is a tight fit, I wouldn't want to try and get anything bigger in the hole.

[Yex 450]

Looks quite different from the ACT one I had installed in my Chimaera a little while ago

http://www.actproducts.co.uk/product/ar002-griffit...

[GR_TVR]

s p a c e m a n said:

Too wide isn't it? Aaron radiators say that the bottom mounts are 827mm https://www.aaronradiator.co.uk/index.php?p=catalo...

The details on that ebay listing says it's 915mm. The one from Aaron radiators is a tight fit, I wouldn't want to try and get anything bigger in the hole.

Hm yes, I have a feeling their dimensions are wrong on the listing - I'm going to ask them to clarify. But a core of 56mm wide and then overall of 140mm doesn't add up!
I've seen someone else quote the packaging size in that space, wouldn't surprise me if they've done the same.

Just got my rad back - it measures 870x375x56mm.

[GR_TVR]

Some of the reviews look a bit rubbish to be fair. I'll probably steer clear from those ones.