Blokko Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 When left standing the car doesn't leak any fluids, but I've just noticed (in this cold weather) that when up to temperature there is a very small wisp of steam coming from the heater matrix and a bit more from the rad. In the case of the rad it is coming from the join between the main billet of aluminium (radiator head I guess you call it?) and the top of the rad matrix. I will keep an eye on fluid levels, but I was just wondering what options I have to rectify this? Presuming that rad weld type stuff is a big no-no? Radiator repairs, possibly?. Or is it just a case of biting the bullet and replacing? If so, are there any options other than the standard Caterham part? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Nick Chan Posted November 24, 2013 Area Representative Share Posted November 24, 2013 Hi Steve,is it a little bit of moisture from the air just burning off? Normally you might not notice if the weather was a bit warmer Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 I fear you have some small leaks/weeps. Why not try something like Bars Leaks ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 it could just be water from when you last washed it. don't use bars leaks as it blocks the whole system up with gunge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Steve, it could well be a very minor weep. I had something similar and it never leaked fluid but sucked in a little air each time the car cooled. Best bet is a pressure test. Do you have a local friendly garage? They should have a tester that would check leaks. You can make one with a screw in tyre valve and a spare expansion bottle cap and a bicycle pump with a gauge. If it is weeping, go Radtech, and they are not far from you for a visit. Cheers Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokko Posted November 24, 2013 Author Share Posted November 24, 2013 Quoting Dave Jackson: it could just be water from when you last washed itBeen several weeks since I cleaned the car, Dave - pretty sure it is a small leak. Quoting Mavic82: Best bet is a pressure test. Do you have a local friendly garage? They should have a tester that would check leaks. You can make one with a screw in tyre valve and a spare expansion bottle cap and a bicycle pump with a gauge. If it is weeping, go Radtech, and they are not far from you for a visit. Cheers Guy Guy, I'm thinking that the people in Wednesbury who I linked to in my original post might be worth a call / visit. But maybe I just need to bite the bullet and go for a Radtec... Quoting Nick Chan: Hi Steve,is it a little bit of moisture from the air just burning off? Normally you might not notice if the weather was a bit warmer Nick Nick, I think it was going on for too long for it to be a bit of condensation - funny that it was all coming from the same one spot as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbutnotslow Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Please whatever you do DON'T put a rad leak treatment in the engine Find the problem and fix it It isn't unusual at this time of year to get this. Its usually just condensation However, get the engine good and hot and carefully check for any witness marks from any coolant leaks (whiteish powdery residue) Check around the heater air flaps in the foot-wells as well Pressure checks tends to show up bigger leaks but may be worth doing just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob_C Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Assuming you have the standard Caterham radiator with the crimped plastic top and bottom, this is how my leak started. If so, it will gradually get worse. I eventually got the wisps of steam and coolant on the windscreen on heavy acceleration. I replaced the radiator with one from Radtech via SevenSpeed. I am very happy with this solution. Bob C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokko Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share Posted November 25, 2013 Bob - looks like I'm heading in that direction ☹️ Grant, Dave - assumed that rad leak gunk would be a bad idea (was just looking for confirmation). So, is it worth the extra dosh for the Radtec over the standard Caterham part (£312 versus £225 approx. - without delivery) ? What does the Radtec give me over the std Caterham part? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbutnotslow Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 If you are sure that it is the rad why not simply have the rad re-cored. Someone like Radiator Express whom Ive used for customers will do a first rate job at a fraction of the cost of a new rad. The ones that I have take to them have all had larger cores fitted at no extra cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Steve I would say a radtech is definitely worth it. They tend to give a discount to club members and there service is first rate (in my experince) and when I did have a slight issue two years later they fixed it for just the cost of the postage. Plus it cools better. On the other hand I went through 2 caterham rads with not so much as a hint of concern from them Rgds Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 is it happening after a really good heat cycle ? I still suspect water after a wash - it would be odd for both the heater AND the rad to leak at the same time ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokko Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 Well, finally got round to getting the radiator pressure tested. They confirmed that there were several small leaks (in their words “due to aluminium pitting”) and that it would be best to replace rather than to repair. Drove from Wednesbury to Cannock to the new home of Radtec. They are doing a Caterham radiator build run later on this week, so with a bit of luck I’ll have a shiny new one to fit at the weekend. Hopefully the odd wisp of steam from around the heater matrix was due to condensation. We shal see.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Kay Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Smart call. It will soon be fixed and you'll know it's good. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Is it under warranty? Richy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokko Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 Quoting richy: Is it under warranty? Richy2002, so just a little out of warranty 😬 Anyhow, something has just occurred to me - I've made the bold assumption that the SV rad is the same size as the S3 rad. Can anyone confirm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokko Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 Looks to be the same part number on the S3 and SV, so hopefully I'm ok on this one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokko Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share Posted May 25, 2014 So, to narrow down potential issues with the cooling system I decided to take the heater out of the equation for a while by bypassing it. I'm happy that I've currently got the system well bled, but I've hit a slight problem with the Radtec. The fan switch is leaking slightly. I've tightened it as far as I dare (brand new switch with new copper washer), but there is still the very slightest weep from there. Any suggestions as to what to use to get a better seal? This weekend I turned my attention to those "small wisps of steam coming from the heater matrix". Spurred on by this thread I dismantled the heater and this is what I saw - and So it looks to me like the O-rings have been seeping small amounts of coolant over some time. Being a Bank Holiday weekend I've not been able to procure like-for-like O-rings, but I managed to get round profile ones from Halfrauds. Used a file to smooth the surface of the plate and screwed it all back together. Initial warm up of the engine followed by a 15 min blat and so far it seems like the heater matrix is not losing any fluid (no signs of steam or moisture) - so hopefully I have a result here Edited by - Blokko on 25 May 2014 20:59:07 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 I don't recall my fan switch sealing with a washer ? Thought it was a few wraps of wraps of PTFE tape ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Steve I had the same thing and took some bottle to tighten it more, but I did after a call to radtec. The washer is a crush jobbie and it just needed a bit more twist. It was effing tight. Give radtec a call first but I seem to recall the same on my car pre USA2005. Powderpuff can confirm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokko Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share Posted May 26, 2014 Hi Martin I'd got to the point where I just couldn't tighten any more using regular pressure on the adjustable spanner. With a snap action I managed to turn it just a little more and, for now at least, it seems to be watertight. Will keep an eye on it over the coming days..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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