Radiator problems

[sunday driver]

Can anyone help with a radiator problem? The rad has developed a weep which appears to be coming from the bottom left corner (looking from the front). Would anyone recommend using a radiator leak repair liquid, or can the radiator be repaired, or am I looking at a new or second-hand radiator ? Any help appreciated. Car is NSX18P '96 Targa-84000 miles.:(

[SILVER BULLET]

I seem to remember that mutley had to purchase a new radiator, maybe a search of his posts last year will throw up something, sorry can't be more helpful,

Cheers,

Ian

[britlude]

the rad is aluminium core with plastic end (top and bottom) tanks. on mine the actual plastic cracked rather than the ali/plastic crimped joint, leaving me with the option of a new honda (££££!) rad or one of the many aluminium tanks. searching here/nsxprime/traders/E of the bay should give you an idea of the options and relevant feeback. I went for the full aluminium option! about £200 delivered

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?7038-wanted..-radiator-for-my-car!!!!&p=63979&highlight=#post63979

also

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/showthread.php?7350-Radiator-blown/page2

[Justin]

"Weep" sounds very mild, so in the short term you might want to run with radweld - I've seen it used to good effect in performance cars with no detriment to the cooling capability of the system....

Is it just me, or can anyone else remember dads/uncles/etc cracking eggs into burst radiators back in the day? :cantlook:

[paulc]

There is a radiator for sale on NSX Prime, $100

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

Hi, sunday driver.

Quite often, it is neglected but the radiator on our NSX (and most of the old production cars) should be considered as a consumable part.


It’s my personal opinion but that is the same view among most of the NSX specialists in Japan.


It's not possible to judge the timing of replacement by just the age and mileage because it depends on the number of heat cycle as well but with 84K miles and 15 years old, it served enough and time for a new one.


Probably you won’t notice it in UK but in Japan, as we have very hot and humid late spring – mid Autumn period, the frequency of triggering the radiator fan dramatically changes before/after replacing the radiator.


Over many miles, the core fin of the radiator gets blocked and no longer able to keep the same cooling efficiency as the new one.


It is inevitable to see the small leakage/seepage due to the cost saving structure of most of the radiator.


It is made out of recycled aluminium and there are two plastic housing just crimped at the top/bottom section.


On our NSX hot coolant enters from the bottom side and then cooled coolant exits from the top section.


Therefore, most of the leakage/seepage can be seen at the bottom side due to higher thermal shock rate.


Two different materials only crimped together and added thermal shock will eventually result in leakage.


I don’t recommend using the ‘radiator repair liquid’ or the used one.


Unlike other production car cooling system, our NSX holds 16.0 – 16.5L of coolant.

More than twice the amount compared to some of the cars running out there.


I only heard feed back from two NSX owners in Japan regarding the usage of such repair liquid but both of them failed eventually and one of them ended up with a huge bill in the end.

He lost coolant (even after using such repair liquid) from bottom plastic neck near the coolant hose (same place as yours??) due to weakened crimp while on the motorway and over heated the engine.


Using the used radiator should be considered as a temporary fix in case you need to drive your NSX until you receive the new one.

Used one doesn’t have the cooling efficiency as the new one and eventually, it will leak.


You can use the radiator from 3.2L C32B engine on the 3.0L C30A engine.
In US, it is the same price but in Japan, it is cheaper to get the C32B one than the C30A one.


If buying the aftermarket one, Koyo is well known in the Japanese market.

They are manufacturing the special radiator for the several NSX specialized shops in Japan.


I don’t think Koyo Japan sells the NSX OEM replacement model through their web but that was long time ago and possibly changed by now.


I may check it later as I may replace my radiator again while working on the TB/WP on my NSX in the near future (I hope...).


I think SoS sells Koyo one in US but I think it is manufactured by Koyo US.


It’s all aluminium without the plastic bits so in the very unlikely event of leakage, you can at least weld it.


Recently, I saw the installation of Mishimoto one and you will need some trimming and adjustment but not too bad.

Kaz

[mutley]

HI Sunday Driver,

Yeah I had to replace mine as it slit around the same area you are talking about, I didn't notice any seepage before hand though (I'm not often looking at that area) and it just went and dumped all my coolant. I went for the Mishimoto one (as Kaz mentioned, he saw it on my car and it needs a very minor trim in the fan cowling) however it is all aluminium , a great fit and I think it cost about £250 inc shipping from the US (only a couple of days for delivery).

[TheSebringOne]

Personally I would not take any chances and get the radiator replaced with a new one.

[sunday driver]

Thanks for all your help and advice. Whilst shopping for a new radiator, a couple of people put me off Radweld, but recommended Kalimex K-Seal, an american product but freely available here. I poured it in to the header tank and within 3/4 minutes my leak had stopped. This at least keeps me mobile until a new radiator appears!

[Nick Graves]

I agree with Kaz: flush that stuff thoroughly out of the system once you do a proper repair.

The plastic has become brittle due to heat cycling most probably; it will therefore eventually fail in a spectacular fashion if ignored too long.

Eggs in the rad did used to work, but became terribly smelly after a while! Wouldn't entirely recommend in on a fine ally rad!