Review: trademe radiator (long)

[jif]

Well things were getting pretty heated with my original radiator in the '96 MX5. Temps were regularly sitting around 98*C. A radiator flush made things worse, stirring up crud which then blocked most of the radiator off (cold spots in the middle) and made commuting temps get up to 108*C. Yowser!

The radiators being sold by Silverdale Radiators (no affiliation) were advertised as being 27mm thick, the stock one must be something like 12-18mm thick - it's tiny by comparison! They both have plastic tanks, aluminium cores, and the new one is $259. Oh, and it has fittings in the bottom tank for a transmission cooler.

Fitting is surprisingly easy on an NA, undo 2 12mm bolts at the top, drain coolant, undo hose clamps and lift straight out.

The new radiator needed the 2 bottom mounting posts and 2 top bolt eyelets moved over. This was also pretty easy with a pair of pliers to remove the rubber grommet and C-clip respectively. The holes for the bottom mounting posts needed reaming out as they were about .5mm too small though.

Installation was literally the reverse of removal, and I reverse filled it (from the bottom) with water and coolant. Reused the radiator hoses (to be replaced v.soon though).

A very slow drive around the neighbourhood showed that temps didn't get over 96*C now, and have been behaving themselves despite the summer weather.

All in all, a thumbs up for the cheapie radiator

So.. anyone know where to get silicone radiator hoses around here?

-J

[poison]

Nice review Jif, I thought you were getting a big ass alloy thing, but at
that price you can't go wrong. Were the header tanks new or is this a
re-core of sorts? When I was after second hand radiators 18 or so months
ago the price was $185-$225 from a wrecker. So the price is exceptional. I
might do this also, I was going to add cooling hoses to my turbo (FYI the
turbo specialist said not essential) but I was worried about overloading
the rad, this could be the cure.

Silicone hoses.... more than the rad. There is a place on TradeMe selling
flextech hoses, the top hose alone was $225 so maybe just new hoses now and
again would be better (but not as nice). I hope you did the lower ones when
the rad was out, much easier, the lower one is in two pieces, with a fixed
joiner in the middle. The lower hose is OK to do but the upper hose was
hell. Maybe easier without aircon as I recall the aircon hoses being a
hassle. Certainly worth doing if they have gone a bit hard (and definitely
if crunchy) if you squeeze them.

When the bottom hose goes on the motorway the water is gone in seconds and
you don't even know until the car starts running funny... scary experience.
Trust m eon that one, and I am still worried about possible engine damage
12 months later as I'm sure it gets hotter than before.

PS: Did you get my second email?

[jif]

yep, everything all totally brand new - core, header tanks etc. Only thing I can fault it on is those 2 mounting holes that were a smidge too small, and the packaging was a bit minimal. Though that didn't seem to matter.

Silicone rad hoses are under $100NZ (top and bottom) from miataroadster.com / miatamania.com ... I was just hoping to find something local is all !
http://www.miatamania.com/Shop/ViewProd ... exID=34355

[poison]

If I can get some blue one’s for a hundy I’m in but which are which? There are a few to choose from.

[Psycho_Dad]

i wouldnt watercool my turbo, its one more thing that can leak and drain your rad, well atleast toyota celica turbos had that problem

ahhh the head gaskets, what a design flaw

PEace
Psycho_Dad