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[Andy A]

Which radiator did you eventually go for. The £44 one recommended by Doc Gollum or the £80 Vaux?
Please let us know if there were any issues fitting it?
Thanks,

Went with the £44 one recommended by Doc Gollum. Will be fitting it towards the end of this week if all goes well. Will let you know how the fitting goes.

[Andy A]

What is the torque settings for the radiator fan switch's?

Is it a 29mm or 30mm spanner size? I don't have one so will have to order one.

Will I have to renew the dowty washers?

Thanks

[Doctor Gollum]

30mm iirc, and switches should come with new washers

[Andy B]

....
Is it a 29mm or 30mm spanner size? I don't have one so will have to order one.

 ....

I wouldn't buy a 30mm spanner to just do one job, unless it was very cheap. I'd buy a gland pliers for a one off job or maybe a cheapo adjustable spanner.

[Doctor Gollum]

There are a couple of jobs on the Omega which warrant a larger offset ring spanner

Not sure if the switches fit through one though... Honestly can't remember 

Fit them with the radiator out and space isn't a concern, so a large adjustable would suffice 

[Enceladus]

Seems to me that the spanner flats are 29mm.

The tightening  torque will depend on the type of washer that being used, supplied with the switch. A Dowty will require less torque than a crushed aluminium type. And some washers might be fibre.

[Nick W]

Fit them with the radiator out and space isn't a concern, so a large adjustable would suffice 

that. There's not much space to get tools to the switches when the radiator is fitted.


Bear in mine you're screwing them into a plastic housing, and the sealing is done by a crushable washer so they need little more than nipping up. Water pump pliers will do that.....

[Andy A]

Ive got another problem and need some help please ASAP.

The oil cooler pipe in the new rad is leaking water out of the the centre fitting. Can only guess a bad solder joint on the pipe fitting inside the rad.

What size bolt would I need to blank the oil cooler pipe rad inlet and outlet off to stop the leak?

I'm so glad I have a manual and not an auto box.

I need the car back on the road ASAP.

Thanks for any advice and help.

 

[Enceladus]

Ouch!
So coolant is leaking into the auto box heat exchanger and coming out of one of the transmission connectors?
That absolutely should not be happening.

You mentioned there were no blanking bungs.  That struck me as a bit odd, if for no other reason than to prevent grime and debris out of the heat exchanger and contaminating the ATF. Assuming it was to be fitted to an auto. Are you certain the rad was brand new? Might it have been somebody else's faulty return?

I think the thread in the ports might be M14, but I won't swear to it.

You probably need a seal for each blanked port as well. Perhaps an oil pan drain plug and M14 Dowty washer might fit. The sump plugs might be short enough and will have a sealing land below the bolt hex.  They should be easily available from any motor factor.

However I'd be more inclined to demand a replacement working rad, by courier, from carspares-direct. I just couldn't trust your radiator, even though you're not using the heat exchanger.

[Enceladus]

@Andy A
Any update on how this all worked out?
Did you have to get a replacement radiator from carspares-direct or somewhere else?

[Andy A]

@Andy A
Any update on how this all worked out?
Did you have to get a replacement radiator from carspares-direct or somewhere else?

What happened is that I got fobbed off several times so I went out and bought 2 sump plugs, the ones with the rubber o-rings on. This cured the leak coming from the internal oil cooler pipes.

I'm just glad I didn't have an Automatic as the gearbox would have been full of coolant. I advise to stay well clear of that company.

[Doctor Gollum]

I recommended it on price iirc, not my usual choice of supplier, but £44 looked cheap enough to take a chance, sorry that it didn't work out that way 

[dave the builder]

there was a spate of similar coolant /trans cooler fails (coolant going into the auto gearboxes) on genuine Vauxhall rads a few years ago on some models 

[Andy A]

I recommended it on price iirc, not my usual choice of supplier, but £44 looked cheap enough to take a chance, sorry that it didn't work out that way 

Don't worry about that Al. It was worth ago at that price. 

The firm itself though is another matter. 

[Andy A]

there was a spate of similar coolant /trans cooler fails (coolant going into the auto gearboxes) on genuine Vauxhall rads a few years ago on some models 

Surprised that the genuine Vauxhall rads had the same problem.