Don't let it touch your radiator!! A cautionary tale.

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Oscar
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Don't let it touch your radiator!! A cautionary tale.

Post by Oscar »

One of the first jobs I did on the TZD was to check the rad. It was partially blocked, and frightened at the cost of a new one, I took a risk and cleared it with a weak solution of hydrochloric acid. This worked well and the cooling system has been fine since.

Until I noticed that the water level was low last week. Topped it up – about a pint – and carried on. Low again by the same amount the next time I checked it.

Investigation showed a hole about 2 inches from the top of the rad with water seeping from it.

The hole has been caused by the housing on one of a pair of jubilee clips that were used to rejoin a cut LHM return pipe. It’s obviously been vibrating its way into the rad ever since it was fitted.

I got a bottle of radweld in quickly and zip-tied the hose out of the way. The radweld may be working.

I’m pretty peeved that someone else’s bodge has compromised a decent rad.

Does anyone know how much radweld a system can take? I have two bottles in now.

And does anyone have a spare radiator?
(Red BX 1.7TZD ("Well, it is a style icon" - Tom Sheppard)) "Was", Tom, "was"
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DavidRutherford
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Post by DavidRutherford »

You're seriously risking having that radweld bung up the entire cooling system, and leaving you with a warped head. I would get a s/h rad as soon as possible, and flush your cooling system like mad.

I've known just 1 bottle of radweld to cause a blown head gasket in the past. It is horrible horrible stuff.
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Cornishbx16v
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Post by Cornishbx16v »

is the tzd radthe same as the 16v one??? i know gsf do them at a very resonable price compared to local factors! i got mine with 5l antifreeze and next day delivery for £68!
i know it obviously goes against the morals of speand as little as possible on the cars but i think that with something as important as a rad you may as well get a good one!
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Post by tom »

Throw the car away! Not content with putting HCL in the radiator, you have now put radweld into the heater matrix. The cost of the unique TZD radiator is about £130. I think that you have made it terminally ill.
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Oscar
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Post by Oscar »

I don't think throwing it away is an option - I know it's economically unsound to chase sunk costs but I don't have the time or budget to start again. And SWMBO would have something to say as well....

The HCl went in with the rad out, and was well flushed so I doubt it will cause any problems.

I'm grateful for the guidance on the radweld, I didn't know whether it was good, bad or indifferent for cooling systems. I shall replace the radiator and matrix, flush the system and carry on, I think.

Thanks folks!
(Red BX 1.7TZD ("Well, it is a style icon" - Tom Sheppard)) "Was", Tom, "was"
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cavmad
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Post by cavmad »

I`ll have a 1.9 (n/a) diesel rad shortly if that`s any use?
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Post by Stewart (oily!) »

I have to replace my Matrix due to the previous gibbon trying to repair the headgasket with radweld, every time I take the rad off i get lumps of reddish clag out of it, i have had some success with barrs leaks but once again its made of particles that swim around until they find a hole they cant fit through, how about repairing the rad with araldite or similar? and watch that coolant with your eagle eye :)
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Oscar
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Post by Oscar »

Yes I can see Araldite working very well...

...until SWMBO are returning from France in August, somewhere south of Paris, with BX club members dispersed all over the continent, no cover, le garagiste laughing at me....

A new rad will cost 110 and a new matrix 36 from GSF. I think I'll put them in and swallow hard. When I bought the car, the cost of the rad was about 3.5 times the cost of the car, so it looked preferable to re-condition the old one. Now the cost of the rad is about 10% of what I've already stuck into it, so it doesn't seem quite so bad.

I'll have to pretend that one of you guys sent me one for nothing...
(Red BX 1.7TZD ("Well, it is a style icon" - Tom Sheppard)) "Was", Tom, "was"
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Post by Stewart (oily!) »

We all tell little white lies about car expenditure :) SWMBO thinks the christmas fairy got me some leather seats :D still its less than the depreciation on a Chevrolet matiz.
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Post by DavidRutherford »

It would be worth a quick call to a radiator specialist to see if it can be re-cored. If so, it's unlikely to be more than £40-£50, and it's as good as new.

Or a breakers yard for a rad for a tenner, which will probably last for a good few years.
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Post by cavmad »

I'll have to pretend that one of you guys sent me one for nothing...[/quote]

Try the Cavmad tip: sell a few things on eBay and stick the proceeds in your Paypal account. Then when (if) you see a radiator on there you can buy it with Paypal and tell `er indoors you got given it.
You wouldn`t believe the amount of `free` cars and parts that I`ve been `given` especially in the last few months.
Bless her she thought Ken had given me my last estate car for the square root of eff all because I sent him some unwanted BX parts :lol:
There`s quite a few whole cars cheap on eBay at the moment, worth asking one of them if they`ll break for parts?
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Vanny
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Post by Vanny »

Oscar, have sent you a PM

I have a nearly new td rad from ebay (it was posted on here and had a £10 buy it now price), your more than welcome to it at cost, though i'd have a hard time getting it collected and in the post!


Is there anyone ooop Narff (or Cheshire West) who could come collect it and take it down to Oscar? Or anyone passing by? I'm in exams at the mo so a little bit stuck!



Anyone ever pressure washed an old rad that has been filled with rad weld? Makes a pretty mess on the floor and a wonderful sieve for 15mm agregate!
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Post by cavmad »

Where does Oscar live? I don`t mind being part of a relay team and taking it further south or north for someone else to collect if it would help?
Vanny, if you can pack it up well enough Parcel Force will deliver for £12.25 if you go through the internet to book it-£1.00 discount via net and they don`t take cards over the phone.
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Post by Vanny »

Problem is i've got exams all week, infact until the 20'th so dont really have the time to trek home, pack it, ship it and trek back :( Unfortunately i binned the HUGE box it came in as well which is a shame.
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Post by cavmad »

I am a tad busy this week old sport but may be able to collect from you then either post out to our friend or try and get the relay going.
Where is the rad me old mucka, Liverpool or your parents house?
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