New radiator…

[Browneee]

Ok ok I know there’s heaps of threads about radiators.

Recently I’ve had a tranny issue (3 solenoids about to be swapped out), the crazy heat wave in Perth has seen my temp sit at 100, usually sits at 70. Then yesterday discovered I had a pin hole in the power steering line (HP). Had Pirtek make me a new one this morning, so one leak gone. I’ve ordered a new radiator from natrad also as I noticed a dribble of fluid down the tranny cooler side, there’s no fluid in the tranny and 99% sure it’s coming from the junction 0f the inlet pipe. So I’ve decided to swap it out also (Ali/plastic one).

On previous XJ’s I’d installed bigger tranny cooler, 0n this one I’m curious if I bypassed the internal cooler altogether, would it effect anything ?

Second thought is any specific coolent for the Ali/-plactic radiators ?

Regards Rob

[LuluBelle]

I don't like plastic tank radiators where the tranny pipes fit in they will break best of bypassing the radiator into a bigger tranny cooler I have done this to both mine it takes a little longer for the tranny to warm up no biggie with our temps in Australia ......
My 96 runs a stock rad but I put a full aluminum radiator in it I got it off eBay for about $160.00 only thing is that they are LHD rads you have to cut the tabs off and reuse the bottom bit off the old one to hold the Efan and shroud in position a easy swap n fix
I use nulon coolant and demin water also I flushed both mine with Liquid Intelligence 239 What a Difference

[Browneee]

You wouldn’t believe it… it’s my wife’s and my birthday today, so we take boat out with kids for a cruise for brekky this morning. After parking the car at boat ramp, it dumped the coolant on the ground, steam came out everywhere, after looking under car the steam was from coolant gushing out over exhaust… so I’m guessing a welch plug has let go ?.

Hey happy birthday to me

Temp on gauge was normal as it wasn’t very hot this morning and the dr(fe to boat ramp is not very long…

[LuluBelle]

emac used what i was talking about

[awg]

So I need to install a new one as well, as mine sprung a pinhole, and I had to do the cardinal sin of stop leak

I dont want to get caught with a LHD one, even though I think I will bypass the inbuilt radiator "cooler" and just go with my external larger cooler

When I did my black one, the tabs for the fan didnt line up, which was a giant pita

I am concerned with these 4 row aluminium jobbies, as they are 52mm thick, as against about 36mm for the standard, and also the ali ones have a bad rap for failed tig welds

any advice welcome, there is a confusing number of items on Ebay

[Browneee]

AWG, yeah I’m just going with the standard one from Natrad (Ali/plastic), it’s $250 compared to $500. Especially now as I have shelled out for new line for power steering $226 and the solenoids for my tranny $189…

Got to start tearing down the intake and exhaust manifolds tomorrow to confirm it’s a welch plug replacement job and not something bigger.

Then go find some plugs, new exhaust gasket and aftermarket tranny cooler so I can bypass the factory one in the radiator.

Just what I want to be doing whilst on leave…

I have a spare BMW thermo fan on the shelf, whilst the radiator is out I can check to see if it will fit hahaha

[awg]

Dude, why dont you just use an auto "mirror on a stick" to check the welch plugs ?

there is also a UV torch that highlights green coolant very clearly

beats the pus out of tearing the manifolds off

one sob is behind the goddam gearbox bellhousing, maybe even the flywheel !

also one on the back of the head I think