Thread: D2a V8 - His name is BOB - Cooling System.

Hi All

Thought I would share my cooling system experience for info of Aulro and advice from members.

D2a…his name is BOB…...V8 top hat liners.

The T piece in the coolant line has been changed to a copper compression T sourced from the local plumbers shop (B press equal T 25mm … just remove the orings)…. modified a brass air fitting and silver soldered this into the “T”, the brass plug was in the plastic t when I purchased BOB. Re –used the brass plug with a copper washer. The hoses do pinch a little when you tighten the hose clamps because the OD of the T is smaller than the original plastic one…. 2- 3 mm I think. Working just fine but I am keeping an eye on the pinch in the hoses and contemplating mark 2 on the T …. not sure what that we be yet.

Heater plate is gone with the line from the water jacket plumbed directly to the expansion tank.

After going through the 3^rd expansion tank …. Last one after the after the top hat liners I sourced and aluminium tank from Ali Sport in the UK.

The tank fitted OK, but I found that the it was constantly leaking from the cap over flow. I went back to Ali sport … they advised me that they had never had this problem before and that my system was over pressurising. The plastic tank and cap were brand new and has been working fine for a few months and was working when I changed over to the Ali Tank from Ali sport. It is also worth mentioning that the over flow spigot is screwed into the neck of the cap sits in …is not welded and has no thread sealant on it…..!.......i mentioned this to Ali sport and they said it was not necessary……. grrrrrrrumble dummy spit … say no more…….!!!!!!

When I pulled the cap out of the flash housing it was supplied with I found it was rated to 100kpa … 9lb …..check the old plastic cap and its …… wait for it - 140kpa. I went back to Ali Sport and advised them they had supplied the wrong cap and if they could send the correct one ……. Well I got …. we have not had that problem before, please return everything if you are not happy for a refund ………. grrrrrrrumble dummy spit … say no more again…….!!!!!!.............how’s that for after sales service…..?

So I went to auto one …. Purchased a standard Trident 135 kpa metal cap for south of $10.00 and Bob is now all good and content … I have not been back to Ali sport.

I still get the occasional spit from the over flow, I am putting this down to the cap being rated at 135 and not 140kps.

I have not been able to source a 140kpa cap…..? …. Comment and advice would be appreciated on this point…..?

The thermostat has done about 30, 000kms…..was replaced when I did the top hats … do not remember the setting but recommendations on what it should be please given Australian conditions….?

Thanks for reading my rant and your adise and or questions are welcome

All Good

Darren

Landrovers …. Creations of unrealised potential.
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I think the OP means Radiator Caps | Tridon.

We did find that the after market caps leaked at a lower pressure than an original GMH on my brother's Vectra, pro'ly understandable at $15 vs $60 IIRC, so something to watch out for.