Can anyone that owns a pro alloy radiator for a 20VT please check the see if they have any water leaks from where the core is welded to the end tanks.

I now have 2 radiators with a leak from the same place on the side where the radiator hoses join the the rad.

Both these rads are approx 18 months old.

There 'may' be a design problem with the rads that needs attention.

I’ll check mine, but when I had a look about under the bonnet at the weekend it was all good – only been fitted for about 4 months though. Pink coolant so should be easy to spot. Although I did do a bit of blue-peter work when I was fitting mine so it’s possibly not held in place quite as rigidly as it should be.

Rog I check on Saturday (during daylight). I was part of the first GB and so mine must be at least 18 months old.

Pierre

Rog,
There is a fundamental design problem using any alloy radiator in the coupe. The front of the chasis flexes and the rad cannot flex in the same way and so breaks at the weakest point. Same with Barbz' small batch of uprated radiators, same with Pace. The only solution is to secure the bottom two bolts loosely and the top by cable ties or something flexible.
Only design solution is a copper core that will flex like the original does or else to fit a 4 point steel tube frame in front of the radiator to stop the flex (which would be nice)

hi john,

pro alloy were aware of the previous problems with the flexing causing cracking of the end tanks, and havemade these rads using a split pin fitting, so the top of the rad has a reasonable amount of movement.

Im sure you will have seen one of the pro alloy rads fitted, maybe the design if there rads still isnt good enough.

Ive told alex at pro alloy of this problem and he is keen to resolve it, i just urge people to check their rads to as the leak may only be small to start with, but will gradually get bigger.

yup mines held on at the top with cable ties to too ,to allow flexing....as John says a four point frame would solve it and be a good `mod` too

I'll check mine tomorrow but I'm not aware of any leaks...

My radiator was replaced by the last owner, it looks pretty new. It doesnt say anywhere on it who made it as far as I can see, does this mean it's OEM?

Is it made from aluminium? It should be fairly obvious if it is.....

No it's not.

Just found a picture of the pro alloy one on their website, mine looks nothing like this:

http://www.proalloy.co.uk/userdata/PRODPIC-778.jpg

Oh Dear - I think I may have a similar problem with my PA radiator. I seem to be loosing water (via steam) when stuck in traffic for long periods of time. I don't seem to loose any water on a run where the engine is cool. I haven't determined where the leak could be coming from.

IIRC I was part of the first GB for PA Radiators. Could I use some RAD WELD in the mean time ?

when you say a frame, like cross bracing whats there or a "box" around the radiator?

mine is help in place by split pins at the tops with a large rubber washer on each side, can't see any leaks, neither has the water level droped, which is nice

Feel the back of the radiator - if it is dry your problem sounds more like the header tank cap is not working properly.

Thanks John S for the advice (hoping)! I will look first thing tomorrow in the daylight. The header tank is fairly new but will check anyway

I think RAD WELD would be a bad idea. It will probably block up some of the smaller coolant paths in the engine...

Radweld can sometimes cause problems with turbos but it is unusual.

No leaks from mine Rog - but it's hardly been on the car very long, and I've done very few miles.

I've seen it block heater matrix's a couple of times too...

Ok I have decided to purchase another standard Rad for Alternative Autos, and am going to send the pro alloy one back to pro alloy for analysis by the end of the month. Should we inform the people doing the next group buy about this?

Thanks and very well done, Gouki!
Everyone of us would surely find a personal and effective solution but it's better if PA finds a single and definitive solution!

Standard rad was fitted on Friday - Rog is going to send the PA one to Pro Alloy!

Sorry guys.. My P.A. rads leave me today morning.. it seems I have the same yours problem .. What can I do now?