Offroad-Express

Hey guys,

Got a 94 surf, auto, done 210k with a bit of a story.

After a few months of owning the truck original radiator started leaking. Replaced this with a alloy one.
First allow radiator lasted 3 weeks and started leaking out welds. Replaced this with a fenix alloy radiator
First fenix radiator lasted 1 year and then started leaking out the core and running down the fins. Fenix were very helpful and replaced this radiator in a blink.
Second fenix radiator, Been in the vehicle 3 days, Leaking out of a weld....

Is my hilux eating radiators, Or is every alloy radiator i touch a piece of S***?

I did think maybe head? But then im getting no other signs, Not using large amounts of water, only small amount assume thats leaking from holes in awesome alloy radiators. Doesnt full up the overflow bottle, starts easy, doesn't get hot??

Has anyone had this problem or has anyone got any advice on what to do?

Cheers

_LowKey_ wrote:I did think maybe head? But then im getting no other signs, Not using large amounts of water, only small amount assume thats leaking from holes in awesome alloy radiators. Doesnt full up the overflow bottle, starts easy, doesn't get hot??

doesn't need to lose heaps of coolant. our holden v8 had a tiny little leak from radiator, was a plastic one though, wasn't pushing out overflow, wasn't overheating because still had plenty of coolant. went on for a few weeks just getting coolant low warning. then got worse. swelled top tank on radiator, did the test, was a very slight crack in one of the head gaskets.

only time ive seen issues like this was 2 causes....

1: Shit radiators ( give george at silverdale radiators a call he'll sort you out ) Get a copper brass radiator.

2: the red coolant mixed with green coolant makes a corrosive mix and eats them ( and other metal parts in the cooling system. )

Get your coolant for stray current. Could be electrolysis.

Im starting to think shit radiators...
you guys think its worth chucking the truck in the garage and getting them to test head etc?

Also how do you test for stray currents?

to keep the problem in context a dodgy head or head gasket wont make welds on an alloy radiator crack or leak

derk wrote:to keep the problem in context a dodgy head or head gasket wont make welds on an alloy radiator crack or leak

Was looking for an answer along these lines, so you would agree with me crap radiator? surely if head was cracked or head gasket the excess pressure would full up the overflow bottle before it starts cracking welds in a radiator?
Maybe time to ask for a refund and get a genuine radiator... had a bad run with this aftermarket stuff

_LowKey_ wrote:

derk wrote:to keep the problem in context a dodgy head or head gasket wont make welds on an alloy radiator crack or leak

Was looking for an answer along these lines, so you would agree with me crap radiator? surely if head was cracked or head gasket the excess pressure would full up the overflow bottle before it starts cracking welds in a radiator?
Maybe time to ask for a refund and get a genuine radiator... had a bad run with this aftermarket stuff

Think you have pretty well summed up the problem

at the risk of sounding like an ass... It hasn't been mentioned but Seized radiator caps won't let the excess pressures even get to the overflow .. Just in case it's one of those missed the obvious situations .. Just trying to help. Hope you get the issue sorted ! I bloody hate overheating issues.

More things to consider may be

How is the rad mounted, is it getting twisted? If not on factory mounts.

Maybe the rad is getting hot- are you still using factory gauge - these gauges were hopeless I had heard

fh2014 wrote:at the risk of sounding like an ass... It hasn't been mentioned but Seized radiator caps won't let the excess pressures even get to the overflow .. Just in case it's one of those missed the obvious situations .. Just trying to help. Hope you get the issue sorted ! I bloody hate overheating issues.

More things to consider may be

How is the rad mounted, is it getting twisted? If not on factory mounts.

Maybe the rad is getting hot- are you still using factory gauge - these gauges were hopeless I had heard

Radiator cap is brand new with this radiator, the radiator before this had a different cap.
And all 3 radiators which have shat themselves were all mounted differently.
Using factory gauge but it has had the temp gauge mod done to it so i can keep an eye on things, never really goes over 95ish.

Shes been a ongoing battle slowly been trying different things, at my wits end now, talk to radiator people tomorrow try and come up with a solution

update, tested for electrosis, had .4v, which is apparently real bad, anyone know much about this stuff?? flushed system and now just 1.9v, re flush tomorrow and see how it goes