Cooling problems

[Loubaruch]

While updating the coolant hoses to silicon I uncovered some hidden problems:

http://bertram-hill.co.uk/grif.aspx

Edited by Loubaruch on Sunday 26th June 10:28

[Hedgehopper]

Interesting, worth a check. Have you ever used radiator leak sealer in the cooling system? Wondered if this was the source of the crud as the correct anti-freeze for aluminium engines should prevent corrosion.

[Loubaruch]

No only approved Antifreeze that has been changed regularily. Perhaps the quality of the aluminium in the Swirl and expansion tanks is suspect, I was most surprised at the level of corrosion. Only glad I found the reason for the exploding heater hose!

[jimed]

I had a small issue with my cooling system earlier this year. Sign was the header tank stayed full; after much messing about I discovered that the hose from the swirl to the header tank (Griff 500), whilst appearing fine, was in fact flat under one of the chassis members so hose was replaced. We did check the header tank pipe connections as they can get mucky as your experience says and they were fine.
Jim

[Simon.b]

I’ve had exactly the same corrosion issue; I don’t know how it happened. The stub pipe on the swirl tank was so bad it stated leaking, so I cut it off tapped the hole and had a new brass pipe made that screwed in. It’s been OK since.

Now I’m getting corrosion in the large pipe at the bottom of the swirl tank that feeds the radiator. So far it not leaking, the hose has been fitted with silicone to help keep a seal.

I’ve always used 50:50 anti freeze mix and change it annually, never used any rad-weld type products, just don’t get why it’s corroding like this.