Radiator blocked

[56 88]

Hi all,

The radiator on my 57' S1 is blocked and engine therefore overheats. I've tried cleaning, and back flushing radiator and engine etc, but no luck. The local radiator guy says a new brass and coper core will cost $1400 (including reassembling the radiator). He reckons he can't clean out the vents. Does anyone have any ideas about what else I could do? As the core appears to be in good condition and does not leak, I wondering if there is a cheaper solution.

Thanks, John

[grey_ghost]

I wonder if you could soak it in a solution to try and break up the crud blocking the radiator?

Hot soapy water?

Or something like WD-40 rust remover soak?

Then blast it with water - in multiple directions (top & bottom radiator outlets)

I suppose what have you got to lose? It depends on what the crud is? Rust? Mud?

[LR1953]

John,
I had exactly this problem with my '53 2 litre siamese bore engine and the cause turned out to be a failed bellows-type thermostat. And the good news is that a standard 300tdi thermostat fits perfectly and opens at the correct temperature. Easy fix!
NB you will also need the c-section rubber gasket that fits around the body of the thermostat. Another standard 300tdi component. This makes it a snug fit in the t'stat housing.

Cheers, Rob S

[goingbush]

Drain it & fill it with 25% Hydrochloric (pool acid) 75% water .

Wear goggle & dont wear clothes you care about. Dont breathe in the fumes.

Take it for drive , 1/2 hour - 20km will do . Let it cool, drain it careful about splashes & where the acid ends up ,

flush , take for another drive . repeat .

That should fix it.

[1950landy]

You can check if it is the radiator by blocking the bottom outlet with your hand, fill the radiator up with water, then removing your hand, the water should rush out the bottom outlet, if it is slow coming out the radiator is blocked. As already said, I would be checking the thermostat, you can do that by removing it & dropping it in a container of boiling water & watch for it to open, check the radiator cap isn't losing pressure. If the radiator is blocked your radiator guy should be able to clear it by removing the top & bottom tanks & they have Roding the tubes. You could also check the impeller on the water pump, also head gasket, that can be checked with a TKO test which checks for combustion gases in the radiator water. It is possible that there is combustion going into the water & not showing in the oil or as a miss fire. This will build up pressure in radiator forcing the water out the overflow thus raising the temperature of the water.
I would be checking all other options before replacing the radiator.