Discussion
Today I removed the front slam panel and unfortunately I found the the radiator swelling at the top.
So I need to replace it, I can do it myself, no problem.
So before I have to pay around £700-£800 for a new one does anyone know of a cheaper patterned part of recon unit?
Thanks for any help.
So I need to replace it, I can do it myself, no problem.
So before I have to pay around £700-£800 for a new one does anyone know of a cheaper patterned part of recon unit?
Thanks for any help.
Ok, so I've just had a quick look, there seems to be 3 ways of doing this -
The Nissans is the cheapest at £150 but not sure how long it will last.
The Jaguar rad is around £350 and should hopefully last for quite a while.
The Genuine Aston martin rad is around £800 from AM bits.
This is also a common rad as the DBS and Vantage uses it too, plus i dont fancy doing this job again as you have to remove the undertray, both wheel linings, slam panel, airboxes and front lights just to get the rad out!!!
So with cost in mind I'm temped to go with the Jag rad??
What do you think??
The Nissans is the cheapest at £150 but not sure how long it will last.
The Jaguar rad is around £350 and should hopefully last for quite a while.
The Genuine Aston martin rad is around £800 from AM bits.
This is also a common rad as the DBS and Vantage uses it too, plus i dont fancy doing this job again as you have to remove the undertray, both wheel linings, slam panel, airboxes and front lights just to get the rad out!!!
So with cost in mind I'm temped to go with the Jag rad??
What do you think??
Edited by paulrog1 on Thursday 3rd October 08:36
paulrog1 said:
I'm not sure why a radiator starts to swell, is it anything to do with the thermostat??
Swelling of a couple of rows of cooling fins is a perennial issue unfortunately, age relegated deterioration - but I’d more read that as low quality materials as the rad on many a 30 year old budget car is doing fine.Stat has absolutely nothing to do with it.
If you go non OEM, check the end caps are metal, like the newer Aston part. You’ll likely need new mounting foams all round
the hoses on mine are always rock hard when its been running , theres a fair bit of pressure in the system, i suspect that a 15 year old rad has just got weak been blown up and let down thousands of times, never hear of any excess pressure problems in db9, if you can borrow a pressure tester / gauge it would soon tell you ,but i think its ok , used nissens in the past from euro , always been ok ,happy spannering
Buster73 said:
£150 for me , I’d politely suggest you’ll not notice any real difference between the three of them.
Agreed, Nissins are a major manufacturer of aftermarket radiators and I use them all the time on all makes without issues.The bulging would be a pressure problem unrelated to the thermostat and can be caused by overfilling the coolant or a failure of the radiator cap.
It is also quite a common issue, especially BMW's, and seems to be age related although my theory is that debris blocks the middle, most exposed area of the radiator making it run hotter than the ends causing a thermal bending stress.
I would install the cheaper rad with a new reservoir cap.
BamfordMike said:
Swelling of a couple of rows of cooling fins is a perennial issue unfortunately, age relegated deterioration - but I’d more read that as low quality materials as the rad on many a 30 year old budget car is doing fine.
Stat has absolutely nothing to do with it.
If you go non OEM, check the end caps are metal, like the newer Aston part. You’ll likely need new mounting foams all round
Thanks for all the replies guys, well appreciate it.Stat has absolutely nothing to do with it.
If you go non OEM, check the end caps are metal, like the newer Aston part. You’ll likely need new mounting foams all round
Why do the end tanks have to be metal? The Nissens rad have reinforced plastic end tanks, I guess that's ok as these are commonly used. Is there a reason why I need to install a rad with metal end tanks?, does the engine run higher water temps and/or pressures??
The cheapest rad with metal end tanks I can find is £700 so just £50 cheaper than AM genuine.
I'm very tempted to get the Nissens rad, it's a brand that's used on lots of mainstream cars, my DB9 ownership has to be inside a budget, thats why most of the work done is by myself, so saving over £600 from a genuine rad assuming the Nissens will last over 10 years is very cost effective.
I will be replacing the 4 foam pieces, with a new expansion tank cap, and new thermostat, all will be genuine AM parts.
Ok, i've been looking more into types of radiators and i've got some more info if anyone wants to do this.
There are 2 diffent typres of radiator -
Mechanically assembled - Round tubes, no fixed connection between tubes and fines. Lower cooling performance.
Brazed radiator - Flattened tubes, brazed connection between tubes and fines. High cooling performance.
The original rad on the car is a brazed type, it's recommended to use the same type as before.
So the Nissens one isn't going to be suitable as it's mechanically assembled, so i've found a Hella radiator, 8MK376764-041 that is suitable and looks to fit. cost is between £200-£250.
Bear in mind i haven't done the job just yet so can't confirm that it does fit.
There are 2 diffent typres of radiator -
Mechanically assembled - Round tubes, no fixed connection between tubes and fines. Lower cooling performance.
Brazed radiator - Flattened tubes, brazed connection between tubes and fines. High cooling performance.
The original rad on the car is a brazed type, it's recommended to use the same type as before.
So the Nissens one isn't going to be suitable as it's mechanically assembled, so i've found a Hella radiator, 8MK376764-041 that is suitable and looks to fit. cost is between £200-£250.
Bear in mind i haven't done the job just yet so can't confirm that it does fit.
Mine had a bulging issue at the top of the rad as it is thin and weak, common issue to be honest and is seen on the V8s too.
I fitted a full alloy one that eliminates all the plastic and thin parts. Good upgrade but will not be the cheapest.
Mine has been spot on since
We sell them for around £700 from where I work
I fitted a full alloy one that eliminates all the plastic and thin parts. Good upgrade but will not be the cheapest.
Mine has been spot on since
We sell them for around £700 from where I work
Ok some more info about this.
The Hella jag XK rad will fit, BUT it won't cool the engine down properly because the radiator matrix is only 26mm thick, all the jag rads are. The AM rad is 42mm thick.
So the Jag rads are not suitable.
So the cost now rises to around £700 for a suitable rad. I recommend getting one from Paul above.
The Hella jag XK rad will fit, BUT it won't cool the engine down properly because the radiator matrix is only 26mm thick, all the jag rads are. The AM rad is 42mm thick.
So the Jag rads are not suitable.
So the cost now rises to around £700 for a suitable rad. I recommend getting one from Paul above.
Edited by paulrog1 on Monday 14th October 20:33
paulrog1 said:
Ok some more info about this.
The Hella jag XK rad will fit, BUT it won't cool the engine down properly because the radiator matrix is only 26mm thick, all the jag rads are. The AM rad is 42mm thick.
So the Jag rads are not suitable.
So the cost now rises to around £700 for a suitable rad. I recommend getting one from Paul above.
Thanks for this, and sorry the wrong infoThe Hella jag XK rad will fit, BUT it won't cool the engine down properly because the radiator matrix is only 26mm thick, all the jag rads are. The AM rad is 42mm thick.
So the Jag rads are not suitable.
So the cost now rises to around £700 for a suitable rad. I recommend getting one from Paul above.
Edited by paulrog1 on Monday 14th October 20:33
I've just completed replacing the radiator on my DB9.
Yes it was a pain to do as to remove the cross member you need to move the wings out and drop the front lights.
A big thankyou to Paul (a98pmalcolm) for sourcing me a new radiator, top quality, made from the same company who supplies Aston Martin.
I also took the time to replace the thermostat, coolant reservoir cap, radiator hoses with new clips, auxiliary belt, idler pulleys and tensioner pulley too as these where so easy to get to once the rad was out.
Great job done, should keep it going for years to come.
Yes it was a pain to do as to remove the cross member you need to move the wings out and drop the front lights.
A big thankyou to Paul (a98pmalcolm) for sourcing me a new radiator, top quality, made from the same company who supplies Aston Martin.
I also took the time to replace the thermostat, coolant reservoir cap, radiator hoses with new clips, auxiliary belt, idler pulleys and tensioner pulley too as these where so easy to get to once the rad was out.
Great job done, should keep it going for years to come.
Edited by paulrog1 on Wednesday 20th November 18:49
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