Tiny rad leak , can it wait ?

[bigdods]

Having just spent my entire budget for this year on a service, clutch, new exhaust manifolds (and removal of precats) and new shocks I have now discovered I have a tiny tiny leak at the top of the rad on the n/s. I havent noticed losing any coolant yet so was wondering if this is likely to lead to sudden catastrophic failure or can I leave it for a few months ? I wont be driving much in the winter just enough to keep everything lubed up so maybe 150 miles a month.

I only noticed as I had the bonnet open with the engine running and I could see tiny wafts of steam coming from the top front. Its not coming from the pipe but from the front of the rad itself. These little wafts are so small you can barely see them so it must be a tiny pinhole.

Apart from this the rad looks to be in good condition

Any advice welcome

Cheers

Dodsy

[V8 Animal]

I assume you've considered rad weld?
Or is this frowned upon on here.
There's never a good time is there mate.

[GreenV8S]

Really sure it is a leak and not just water being evaporated from the outside? A pressure test would tell you for sure.

[bigdods]

V8 Animal said:

I assume you've considered rad weld?
Or is this frowned upon on here.
There's never a good time is there mate.

I wouldnt use rad weld too much potential to bugger everything up. Of course if it was my daily hack rather than the TVR it would be a different story

Theres never a good time, but having had this beast for 4 years now there is always something that needs doing at the next service/in the next few months. In my head this little problem is in that category right now, something to fix before summer next year rather than an urgent problem that must be fixed now.

Just seeking opinion to see if this is something I will be able to get away with for a while.

[bigdods]

GreenV8S said:

Really sure it is a leak and not just water being evaporated from the outside? A pressure test would tell you for sure.

Hmmm its possible, I did notice it after a drive this morning. But it had been sat for a good 20 mins after driving before it was started up and the wafts appeared. I thought that as the rad was hot and had been for a while any water would have already evaporated.

food for thought though, I will definately have another look when its fully dry and see if its still doing it.

[V8 Animal]

A bit dear for a one off but a thought.
https://delta.securesslhost.net/~shenglt/catalog/p...
No idea how much a pressure test is.

[V8 GRF]

Water running down the bonnet and onto the rad is always good for a laugh as those around you try to attract your attention to what they think is a very leaky rad.
I'd guess that might be what's happening?

[Ribol]

Wouldn't it be easier to simply monitor the coolant level?

If it isn't dropping it isn't leaking

[Wacky Racer]

Once used Radweld in a Ford Capri 3.0S V6 I used to own.....Worked a treat.

[Ribol]

Wacky Racer said:

Once used Radweld in a Ford Capri 3.0S V6 I used to own.....Worked a treat.

Radweld would be a really bad idea.

[im]

TVR Moneypit said:

Please. Take a leaf out of my book. The answer is no.

Please expand.

[ray_von]

V8 GRF said:

Water running down the bonnet and onto the rad is always good for a laugh as those around you try to attract your attention to what they think is a very leaky rad.
I'd guess that might be what's happening?

Not wanting to hijack the thread, but is this common on Griffs? I was out the other day and had this, and this was the only explanation I could come up with.

[V8 GRF]

ray_von said:

V8 GRF said:

Water running down the bonnet and onto the rad is always good for a laugh as those around you try to attract your attention to what they think is a very leaky rad.
I'd guess that might be what's happening?

Not wanting to hijack the thread, but is this common on Griffs? I was out the other day and had this, and this was the only explanation I could come up with.

Yes especially if you polish and lots of water runs off your bonnet down onto the radiator which is lying exactlt where the water runs off.

im said:

TVR Moneypit said:

Please. Take a leaf out of my book. The answer is no.

Please expand.

Re the Rad weld question it's a bad idea because it not only clogs up holes but areas that might have restricted flow and other nooks and crannies in youir cooling sytem that you want to keep clear and so causing overheating and other maintenance problems.

Edited by V8 GRF on Wednesday 26th November 10:46

[ROBTVR]

I must admit when i first got my Chim the rad had a small leak on the top n/s where the tanks join the veins, it was like this for about a year never got any worse and not much coolant was lost just kept a keen eye on the water level and temps, I have since had a recore.

[carter711]

My understanding is that the radiator helps to keep the engine from overheating, if you see the temperature rise to a point where the engine is remotely close to overheating, turn it off.

As long as you keep an eye on the temp gauge and you check the coolant to make sure it is topped up i'd say it can wait - just be watchful, and carry some water/antifreeze around with you just incase.

[locodude]

ROBTVR said:

I must admit when i first got my Chim the rad had a small leak on the top n/s where the tanks join the veins, it was like this for about a year never got any worse and not much coolant was lost just kept a keen eye on the water level and temps, I have since had a recore.

How much was the re-core if you don't mind me asking? all the fins on the front of mine are rusting away, or can the fins just be replaced?

[ROBTVR]

locodude said:

[How much was the re-core if you don't mind me asking? all the fins on the front of mine are rusting away, or can the fins just be replaced?

It wasn't cheap, IIRC £190 plus the Vodka and Tonic, i still have the receipt at home i 'll check tonight, Still cheaper than a new rad.

[V8 GRF]

ROBTVR said:

locodude said:

[ow much was the re-core if you don't mind me asking? all the fins on the front of mine are rusting away, or can the fins just be replaced?

It wasn't cheap, IIRC £190 plus the Vodka and Tonic, i still have the receipt at home i 'll check tonight, Still cheaper than a new rad.

I actually think that's cheap because as you say it's cheaper than a new rad, they replace over 90% of the rad so it's almost all new anyway and most places use bigger cores so you end up with a three core radiator as opposed to the standard two core and the cooling improves as a result.

Mine was £180 and it really does the job.

Edited by V8 GRF on Wednesday 26th November 13:52

[Chimjunkie]

Would a leak in the cooling system cause it to boil over at a lower temperature? A pressurised system will boil at a higher temperature.. Just a thought.

[Gsw500]

Defnitely worth having Rad recored.

£207 inc VAT for a 4 core 1.5 recore and the temp is no longer an issue apart from it won't go any higher than 80 deg..

Looks like a new rad and while its out you can tidy up any bits at the front etc.
I had the fan connectors replaced and tidied as these get alot of stick too.

HTH.

Edited by Gsw500 on Thursday 27th November 08:25