TD5 Radiators?

[Willis]

I was reading a review of buying a used D2 and it said that the radiators were plastic which goes brittle, cracks and leaks coolant out often catastrophically....

Is this true? I know the side tanks are plastic, but in all my trawling through this and other sites haven't come across the radiators as a special weak spot...other than usual deterioration with age.

Also, said that the expansion tanks were very prone to splitting and should be replaced with an alloy one? Any truth in this - I haven't come across any reference.

I've been working my way through a series of fixes and replacements (many $ and weekends). Last weekend was 50 mm lift which has improved the ride no end.

Next on my list is some sort of engine protection sensor - but would I be better spending on a new radiator instead?

thanks

Willis

[Marmoset]

I'd buy the sensor first, the radiator does not usually fail catastrophically but starts to develop some leaks. What will fail without warning is the plastic pipe that comes out of the radiator, along the top of it and into the header tank, replace this with some hose as a precaution and you should be okay.

Not sure on the expansion tank, I haven't read about any failures on the tank itself but its usually the cap that's suspect so again, replace as a precaution unless you now it's okay....

Rich

[rick130]

Sounds more like Tdi advice re the plastic bleeds in the radiator tank and t/stat housing that can fail and the expansion tank that splits (the old style black ones)