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Advice on radiator selection needed
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8653		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  PhildoD [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:19 am ]
Post subject:  Advice on radiator selection needed
Heya guys, havent been on for a while. Musta thought I had a life or sumthing LOL.

Had a few drama's with my lil clubby. The poor gal decided to spit the head gasket between no.2 and no.3. Took it to the shop coz I'm lazy, and let em mess with it. Anys ways, while the head was in okay nick, the valves were all shot, the valve springs had lost all their tension(one or two were bent all out of shape!?!?), and 2 of the valve inserts were loose. All that stuff's now been fixed, and bolted back together.

Ever since I've owned the lil girl I've had drama's with overheating. It just gets hot, and driving on the highway will have her steaming inside 10 minutes. There's currently a 3 core rad fitted.

I dunno if the radiator is blocked or what. But i'm happy enough to throw it, and fit another. What I'd like is any advice from anyone is whether the 4 core, or the newer 2 core radiator is the way to go. I DONT drive on dirt(did it once, and couldnt walk for the rest of the day from the corrugations). I really dont wanna have to pull everything apart again in another 6 months coz it's running at meltdown temperatures all the time.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Author:  simon k [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:31 am ]
Post subject: 
while the head was off, you shoulda had the radiator cleaned out - for normal driving I've never had trouble with a mini radiator as long as it was clean, my Cooper S stays too cold, when I get on the freeway the needle sits on the C marker. When I've got one out, I always stick the hose (with the high pressure nozzle on it) in the top radiator hose and turn the water on full, wait till it's all coming out clean, do it in the bottom hose, then cover up both inlets and shake it like buggery, then flush it again. I flush the block out with the hose too, take the thermostat out and put the water through the top hose, then the bottom one, obviously after you've taken them off the radiator....

but take the radiator to a natrad or something and get them to take the tanks off the core and clean it all out, the only other reason for it to get hot is if the timing is out...

I'm sure bathurst race cars in the 60's used standard radiators :roll:
Author:  Lillee [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
I would say don't bother with 4 cores or 2 cores, just buy the regular 3 core radiator. If it is in good nick or new, it will be more than fine.

Before you throw it out, try flushing it out with Loctite radiator flush or something like that. You could be pleasantly suprised.

If the block and head is all rusty or coated in years of mayonaise, it will be insulated from any cooling effect of the ratiator, at least to some extent. Hence why I would flush the system out first, if that doesn't work for you, buy a new radiator.

I used to have this problem, are you sure you have the correct "long neck" radiator cap? if not then this will be a $7 solution :lol: The cap should "seal" on the shroud part inside the radiator neck. Do this: if you take off the cap, and it is easy to put back on (requiring no effort to push the cap down and screw it on) chances are you have the wrong cap! Mine used to overheat all the time, then I bought the right cap!

10 mins seams like a very short time, if it overheats inside of 20 mins and not sitting at the lights then your radiator would have to be completely buggered (like rusted through, or completely chocked full of gunk and blocked up) for it to do this... My money is on the cap... or some other radiator leak. Check your hoses and bypass hose...
Author:  9YaTaH [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Thermo...
skssgn wrote:
the only other reason for it to get hot is if the timing is out...

I'm sure bathurst race cars in the 60's used standard radiators :roll:


prolly with their thermostats removed or drilled out...??? anyone know for sure???

How long has it been since you changed or checked you thermostat :?:
Author:  Spaceboy [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
you said your head was a fair bit worse for wear, i'd look at the water channels in the head because they might be clogged with crap baked on from years of use.
Author:  coops [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 2:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
do all what they said then hook up a old heater core and mount it above the clutch housing towards the grill. I know it gets farken hot up there i used to live up your way (lucinda) people even do this trick here in coffs
Author:  Bromley [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
I was going to buy a new radiator for the van. But you all think that a standard with maybe the addition of a thermo fan would be enough? Why is less cores better?
Author:  Lillee [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Something like less cores, larger fin area and more capacity?
Author:  drmini in aust [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
The cores are bigger on the 2 core, and it has a tricky fin design for more area. I put one in Barney (1293cc) as his old one had a 'ole..
Temp now sits on N all the time.

But Mini Ha-ha (1360cc, ~120HP) is now running a stocko Oz 3 core that sat dry in the shed for 5 or more years. According to folklore as it was dried out, it should be stuffed. But I flushed it, fitted it, stuck Loctite rad cleaner in it, and it's good as gold. I do have a MiniMatic fresh air heater too- they work as an an aux radiator.
It runs on N in traffic on hot days, between C + N on the freeway.
If this rad fails, I'll just replace it with a new 3 core one, and save $100+ compared with a 2 core. :wink:
Author:  gafmo [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
I also Agree on all the Above also....but I would also check your hoses....Turn the engine on and rev it from the Engine bay....Check the Hoses and see if they choke...as in are soft and reduce the flow of the water..Another Possibility :?
Author:  PhildoD [ Sat Jul 02, 2005 12:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
thanks for the replies fella's. Ever since I bought the car it's been like this. the head wasnt stuffed at all, just the valves and springs. all been worked over, and fixed up before being slapped back on. The system would have been flushed 12 months ago, and it never really solved the problem. I've changed thermostats abou 3 times so far, and even checked em out of the car.

I havent been able to detect the hoses collapsing or anything like that. Driving around at lower speeds like 60 to 80 will have it staying hot but not boiling. Hitting 100 or above(like I'd ever do that LOL) it will be pissing out coolant as soon as it's shut down. There is no header tank or such on my car, so LACK of coolant may have a bit to do with it, as well as the temps up here. I've just come to the conclusion that a more effecitve radiator would be the most practical solution. Spose I'll just have to pull the tanks off, and clear the cores and see how bad it is.
Author:  coops [ Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
you sure it isn't a timing problem?

my old comodore used to do this beacause the guy who serviced it thought he was the comodore king which left me on the side of the motorway between brisbane and the gold coast on christmas day :cry: after pulling over about half a dozen times i turned the dristributor and walla(spelling) 8)

and it was a very farken hot christmas :cry:
Author:  9YaTaH [ Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:  7.5meg!
PhildoD wrote:
Driving around at lower speeds like 60 to 80 will have it staying hot but not boiling. Hitting 100 or above(like I'd ever do that LOL) it will be pissing out coolant as soon as it's shut down.


air lock in the system :?:

I always let an engine idle away with the cap off letting the air bubbles come out....switch off when starts to expand too much/place cap on.....repeat until no more bubbles.....keep topping up level....

maybe someone else knows a better way to avoid air in the system....
Author:  TheMiniMan [ Sat Jul 02, 2005 4:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
I`m a big fan of checking the thermostat first, then the radiator (as long as the engine is in good tune) & you obviously are sorting all that,,,,but i wouldn`t count out the old water pump ,,,i`ve seen many a mini having over heating problems & when i`ve done all the things listed above, well, lets just say that,,,these days i pull the water pump when i have the radiator out,

on a few mins i`ve worked on,,,,i`ve seen,,,er ,,,ar,,,um ,,,or rather should i say """"Not seen"""" an impella on there :-) GOOOOOOOOnnne :-)

Just a thought if you`ve checked every thing "but" the water pump
Author:  mooman10_0 [ Sat Jul 02, 2005 4:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Im with the other guy! If it is pissing out coolant after a short trip, my money is on the radiator cap! Get one from a mini place though, cause the guys at a local auto shop wouldnt know which cap fits what!!
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