lol, sorry had to get your attention.
Came back tonight after a little thrash and a massive puddle of coolant appeared 5 minutes later. So i filled the car with water, and noticed a jet escaping from the radiator body on the front left hand side (as your looking at the car) about an inch down. So filled a bottle of water up, and span to Halfords (literally 500 yrds away) the temp gauge really wasn't happy . Got out at Halfords and surprise surprise steam was flooding out from the grill. So i bought some Rad Weld and met a friend in the same aisle. He, now a mechanic says he wouldn't put it in a turbo car as Rad Weld makes the car run hotter and a turbo car will run damn hot as it is. Fact of the matter is i have no choice i have to drive to Devon (200 miles) first thing in the morning. So i filled the car with summer coolant (got 5 litres to take just in case) drove home, let it cool for half hour and then ran it up with the rad weld. I then topped up the coolant and left it ticking over for 5 minutes before taking it out for a spin.
I need to know am i about to kill my beloved scooby half way down the A303 ? I will be making regular stops for fuel, so obviously will be keeping an eye on the temp gauge all the way and coolant level.

 

u defo need a new rad mate , they r a known weak spot ( the end tanks as they r just plastic, i wouldnt go far with it in its present state as i know some one who had the same problem and just kept topping up with coolant and in the end needed 2 x head gaskets done, so be warned ! u can get a new rad from most rad specialists for a£100 plus the vat if u haggle hard enough

 

I'll be getting one as soon as i return definately. Only problem is my mrs has a Punto and there's no way we''ll get everything in her car for the weekend away (we have a 5 month old baby anyone who has had a baby will know the amount of stuff that needs to go with us). Its a holiday with the in-laws that has been planned for months, there's 7 of us going its not like i can just pull out.
Is it that much of a threat as long as i drive carefully (kids in the car anyway) with one eye on the gauge. I'll have 3 litres of coolant ready if i have to pull over, and will obviously be very carefull.

 

anyone

 

3 litres of coolant will not last you long, trust me, the leak will get worse (I speak from experience) You could drain the system and then put some stuff over the crack/split and let that set properly (cant remember the name of it but you mix a hardener with it some kind of epoxy resin thing) This will control the leakage a bit more however it will probably still leak.(I speak from experience) For 200 miles I would reckon on about 15 litres of coolant and gallons of water, it really isnt advisable. Put some stuff in the in laws car if possible as the amount of water needed for yours, you wont get to much in anyway

 

The leaks now been plugged with Rad Weld though. Just not sure how reliable it is and after hearing it makes the car run hotter i am a bit worried.
Guess i'll just have to risk it

 

hmmm all that lovely gunk going through your engine and turbo.

 

Er, my head gasket hasn't gone why would it be going through anything but the cooling ports, pipes and rad ?.
Anyway, solved the trick, 650 miles later no loss of coolant until the car has been off for 5 minutes. Used 1 litre on the entire trip.
As for "Running Hot" the temperature gauge stayed the same whether on the motorway or stuck in traffic. Obviously its time for a new rad, but i'd reccomend rad weld in an emergency.

 

I think he's refering to the Rad weld, its pretty ****ty stuff and not good for turbos (yes your turbo is water cooled)..

 

I understand that but its not actually running in the turbo or in the barrels but around them to cool.
Am i wrong in thinking there is 2 pieces to the radiator ? IE 2 radiator bodies ?

 

Yap,

But it seems it worked out!!

Best regards

 

Are there any decent aftermarket radiators you can get which are stronger, or more efficient. Obviously my rad could be 12 years old, but if i then get a second hand one the same could occur in the future. I'd rather spend a bit extra on a larger more robust rad that will last and i casn have more confidence in.

 

In my opinion radiators are all the same... When they have to crack, they crack!

Best Regards

 

Yes, but were talking about very small channels, any air bubbles or air locks will cause the rad weld to set.

 

It was always meant as a very temporary and only in emergency solution.