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ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:25 pm
by Auto
Hi guys has any one tried the alloy radiators they sell on ebay
just want to know if the do keep your engines cooler?
cheers phil
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:52 pm
by mark1gls
Which alloy radiators are you thinking of?
post a link to one?
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 9:26 am
by ghost123uk
It cannot keep the engine cooler. That is a job for the thermostat's temperature rating
Probably
look cooler though

Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:24 am
by Auto
Hi mines over heating and ive renewed almost every thing
just thought that the alloy radiators could fetch the temp back down to normal
heres the link
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140632876638? ... 1423.l2649
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:56 am
by wassell
ghost123uk wrote:It cannot keep the engine cooler. That is a job for the thermostat's temperature rating
Probably
look cooler though

this is true, although once the stat opens the water will cool faster in an aly rad than the stock rad - if like for like in dimensions
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:47 am
by ianaudia4
As your car is a carbed model you will need to source a fan housing, you will need one from an injection car as they are longer.
I still don't think that you need to worry as the picture you sent of your temperature guage is quite normal!
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 2:46 pm
by Auto
Thanks for the info guys
i dont suppose any one has any idea were to an injection fan housing from
and would it be the same housing for a golf gti MK 1 or MK 2 ?
ive seen this housing on ebay heres the link
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110833394821? ... 97.c0.m619
is this the type im looking for ? it's different to the one i have already any way
cheers phil
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:35 pm
by ianaudia4
No, that is not the right type. You could put a wanted ad on here in the wanted section.
You are obviously adamant to get a new radiator, but I think you are pissing money away to get that race one. What you could do is buy an injection rad, about 4 inches longer, and the fan housing, if it cures your issue then jobs a good un, if not you would not have wasted £115.
There is a company in the north east that sells rads for £33 delivered, I think wasted on here bought one.
You state that you have changed most things, such as?
Where are you based mate?
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:13 pm
by Mr Funk
I genuinely can't understand why you're getting that temp if you're moving at any speed, mine drops really quickly despite the temp.
Before you pay out have you got anyone near you? Swapping rads isn't difficult so at Lear you could test the theory
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:39 pm
by Auto
Hi ianaudia4
i copied this from my other post [still over heating]
Hi guys it's still over heating jobs ive done are
new thermostat
new thermo switch sender
new blue expansion cap
replaced small pipe from top of rad to expansion bottle
flushed the system with hose pipe
replaced coolant for the recomended blue stuff
ive now orded a coolant temp sender switch so i will let you know how that goes
took it to the garage to day and been told it's not likely to be the head gasket
as the pipes arnt pressurizing and still very soft, they got there temp gun on the pipes and rad
and the temp was even across the rad and reading 80 ish at the temp sender but the fan did keep coming on
so was recomended to order a new sender failing that try a new rad. the pump was pumping ok from rad to expansion
bottle and expansion bottle didn't pressurize after a good reving so head gasket seems fine so far
today with the cooler weather the needle on the gauge was just above the red dot but it has never lit up red.
any thought of what i might try next up rated rad may be ?
trmp sender didnt make any diffrence at all
this is were the needle sits when the car is on the move
im just getting desparate now as i need my car back on the road it's been a long time trying it get it
sorted so ive took the plunge an ordered one, it could be cheaper than a head gasket job in the long run
cheers phil
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:53 pm
by mark1gls
Engine Timing out will also cause high engine temp.
Have you changed the cam belt as its really easy to miss a tooth when putting the belt back on and change the timing.
Air blockage? The hoses should go hard during running as its a pressurized system, if they are not hard there might be air in the system.
Can't say I've had any problems with over heating from the standard radiator.
Re: ebay alloy radiators any good?
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:53 pm
by Auto
Hi mark1gls
the timings fine i did the belt when i first got the car 3-4 years ago and it's been ok up untill
this year when it started to run a little hotter, it had the timing checked with a mate who tunes cars any way
but ive been reading on another post on here [under what kind of antifreeze coolant]
the bottom 2 posts on the bottom of page 2 have made me think a bit
the coolant should be aparently mixed 40% antifreeze to 60% distiled water i did a 50 50 mix with tap water
so that should help things a little
but if all else fails i can get the lower temp thermostat and fan switch
any how i feel more posative about fixing it now
thanks guys ill let you know how it all works out
cheers phil