replacement radiators

[Grahame at work]

Hi Guys,

My radiator blew yesterday 100 metres from my local garage

My own auxiliary gauge was showing a rising temperature and I was about to pull over to check when steam clouds suddenly covered the wind screen
The garage can't pressurise the system until the radiator is replaced so I've got to lead them through the bleed procedure while looking for any other failure in case there was a less catastrophic failure that preceded the blow out

Question – are the cheaper aftermarket replacements worth it in the long run?
Or is it best to go for the real Mazda version?

What is your opinion

Regards Grahame

[the laird]

With the type of coolant systems on the bongo unless it's a petrol I wouldn't put anything other than genuine parts on the cooling system.its more expensive but against an engine that could suffer with lesser parts it's not money wasted.imop!

[Grahame at work]

Sorry - forgot to state it's a V6

Anyone else? - looking to place orders later today

Regards Grahame

[BongoBongo123]

The cooling system is somewhat on the temperamental side if not maintained well and regularly. Regular refills flushes, various pipe checks etc. Some cars people never change the coolant for 10 years or more. You cannot really do that on a Bongo and expect it to run perfectly. Mid engine means bad heat dissipation, often 20 years old and long pipes and I am pretty sure this is 3 reasons why the design is somewhat cantankerous and a tad unreliable relative to other engines.

I could never see myself not putting an original Mazda rad on if available and I could afford it at the time. Despite being double price or more. You only need one spoilt journey and the costs and hassles would have been paid for with the extra rad costs easily.

It might be tricky finding an original as I notice a few places out of stock.

Pricey here:

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/mercha ... tm#Coolant

[helen&tony]

Hi
There are plenty of good and bad, BUT, I have an aversion to the Mazda original radiators, because I prefer a quality all-metal one rather than plastic and metal. Every other component, I use Mazda original, except the radiator and heater matrices .
Cheers
Helen

[BongoBongo123]

Helen and Tony know what they are talking about so maybe the aftermarket is ok after all.

[helen&tony]

Hi BongoBongo123
Thanks for the vote of confidence...yes, just preference, I'm afraid, because I've never had problems with all-metal rads. I have even had custom-made ones in modded cars...
To be fair, Mazda stuff is good....BUT...the Bongo was never designed for anything other than the home (Japanese) market, and presumably not envisaged to last that long...I've had both heater matrices and the radiator fail, so I naturally prefer all metal...
Cheers
Helen

[lancyman]

I got a new rad and stat from Ian the other week. It isn't the genuine Mazda one, but looks like
a good bit of kit. It's fitted now, and so far so good.

[Grahame at work]

Hi Helen,

Interesting point and I too value your opinion- but having spoken to both Bongo towers and the main vendor of Bongo stuff it appears that the 'standard' aftermarket designs are the same as the original with plastic moulding top and bottom.

So unless I have a sudden change of heart it looks as though I'll be going with an aftermarket.

I think I remember a thread of a few years ago discussing the reliability of the plastic to metal seals on radiators - but nothing recently.
I'm wondering if my failure was on this seal - as a result of another fault causing an overheating condition which ruptured the elderly seal on the radiator - as the temperature was on the rise before the major release of steam.
We shall see.

Regards Grahame

[Simon Jones]

Personally, I'd go with genuine Mazda on the basis that the previous one lasted 10 / 15 /20 years so it can't be too bad. The rad is the same regardless of engine type & it's just as important on a V6 as a diesel (plus the cost of replacing two heads in the event of overheating doesn't bear thinking about). The cost of genuine one is £275 vs. £60 upwards for an unbranded one.

[rita]

From a well respected Bongo Specialist,Julian.

"" I have never had issues with fitting customer supplied cheapy radiators as some of them are brazed/sealed (yes i know they're all 'sealed'!!) all metal units which reduces the chances of the top popping/weeping, so price isnt always a good indicator of what your getting tho in general if it looks too good or cheap to be true it usually is!!
Julian"

[helen&tony]

Hi
I agree that the original Mazda design lasts well...no question, but as I say, it's a personal preference that would always steer me towards an all-metal radiator, as two dis-similar materials such as plastic and metal which are bonded in a low-tech fashion will always exhibit a tendency to fail. To be fair, there's a radiator specialist in the nearest town who will clean and refurbish the matrix and glue the top back on...They make a good living out of it, but wherever possible, I have always fitted up-graded parts to any vehicle I've owned...BUT with the Bongo , there aren't many aftermarket specialists ....There isn't that problem with the Jeep, but they carry an enormous price tag to start with , plus the cost of importing here is a deterrent ...
Cheers
Helen

[BongoBongo123]

Just to add a bit of info of unknown value, just popped and and had a look...mine has a plastic top but it seems like it is clamped on with a metal bracket on the sides of the radiator mine has "5E100" written on the left hand side.

Give me a mo and I will look at the documents and receipts that came with it and that might show the radiator fitting date, back in a mo. (anyway there have been no radiator problems thus far)

Sorry, it was radiator pipes that were replaced in 2009 not the rad, so it would seem like the rad has been on at least 5 years without any problem with the rad itself and if it has a plastic top that would indicate it is not a Mazda one. Though who knows is Mazda ever made a plastic topped rad ?

[helen&tony]

Hi
To add to the above, I always buy from Ian or Allan's...you know that they know their parts and source good stuff...reputation depends on it, plus the reliability on the postal side.......as stated by Julian, you don't know what you're getting elsewhere!....and again on the plus side, you don't get overcharged!
Cheers
Helen

[Simon Jones]

It is correct that genuine Mazda rads do have plastic caps top & bottom. That's fairly standard across many OEM manufacturers I've come across. Yep, go with a type that someone like Allan's, AVA (MazdaBongo.com) or Wheelquick use and you should have a bit more come-back in the event of a problem.