Thread: Radiator replacement - how long?

Originally Posted by shanegtr

So, I changed the alternator belt tonight, and in the process the overflow hose from the radiator has come off. The barbed part of the nipple has broken leaving a shorter nipple with nothing apart from the hose clip to hold it in place. As always for this sort of thing, tommorow is Sunday so bugger all chance of getting a replacement locally so will have to wait until Monday to see what I can come up with. But of course Tuesday morning I need to fly out for work, so for anyone whos replaced a radiator (2.7TD) what sort of time frame did it take to change it. Providing I can get a replacement locally I dont want to start the job if Im going to be working all night to get the job finished.

I wanted to install a new radiator and intercooler in my '08 TDV6 2.7 and talked to a few local garages about ordering the parts and estimating the labour. I have a steel bullbar, winch, spotties etc on the front, which they advised would all have to come off to do the job. After that I decided I wouldn't be doing it on my own in the shed over a weekend with other family things going on. First shop wanted 10 hours labour to do it, second shop quoted 6 hours. So I went with the second shop (Dover's Auto in Wangara) and they were great to deal with. Very honest shop. Hope this helps.

If I can get hold of a radiator today then I'll be finding out if the bar needs to come off soon enough.

Originally Posted by shanegtr

If I can get hold of a radiator today then I'll be finding out if the bar needs to come off soon enough.

Bar doesn't need to come off, the only issue would be that sometimes the grill can't be removed very easily with the bar on. The engine cooling fan can be awkward but will have to come off for sure.
I tried to go sneaky and tried to leave the intercooler in the car, but from memory I think I ended up pulling it as well, should be able to do it in 6 hrs as long as everything comes apart like it should.

Cheers
James

Originally Posted by CanadianRyan

I wanted to install a new radiator and intercooler in my '08 TDV6 2.7 and talked to a few local garages about ordering the parts and estimating the labour. I have a steel bullbar, winch, spotties etc on the front, which they advised would all have to come off to do the job. After that I decided I wouldn't be doing it on my own in the shed over a weekend with other family things going on. First shop wanted 10 hours labour to do it, second shop quoted 6 hours. So I went with the second shop (Dover's Auto in Wangara) and they were great to deal with. Very honest shop. Hope this helps.

What was the best purchase option and cost for new radiator and intercooler?

Were you just changing for preventative maintenance?

I have successfully, drilled and tapped a npt hole in place of a moulded barb before and fitted a brass threaded fuel fitting off a champion rack at Repco or Supercheap before

Little bit of thread tape. Not to much. Usually the plastic is thicker where the moulded barb's are

Originally Posted by PerthDisco

What was the best purchase option and cost for new radiator and intercooler?

Were you just changing for preventative maintenance?

I let the shop order the parts from their supplier. From memory I think the radiator was a bit over $600 and intercooler around $500, plus shipping. The whole job was right around the $2k mark.

Yes mostly for preventative maintenance. They were 11 years old and I felt the rad lost some efficiency. Although the temp gauge never went above normal, the fan would go into "full lock" mode a bit too easily in my opinion (towing camper trailer), and once in a while the transmission would throw a fault which the garage felt was related to heat (again towing camper, usually when attempting to pass a long vehicle). So I went down this path as opposed to fitting a separate trans cooler. Haven't taken the camper out since the work was done so I'm not sure if it is running cooler or not...

Bar defiantly can stay in place. In the process of fitting the new rad now - just been interrupted for school pickup.