V6 Radiator "MOT Pass Jubilation short lived"

[windywatson]

Bongo now 19years old, I've owned it for 9 years since import. 8 faultless MOT's only ever fitted new drop links & usual tyres & brake pads. Still on original exhaust too. Just pulled onto drive after another MOT pass today only to spot a drip under the front of the van.
On examination the radiator is leaking. Well it had to happen at some time didn't it, don't last for ever do they.
So a number of questions.
Is the radiator the same for both Petrol V6 & the diesel, are the top & bottom hoses also the same? Looking at the way the radiator is installed behind the air con evaporator can the rad be replaced without disturbing the air con system?
Would like to do the rad change myself as want to keep the job cost effective as possible, is it well within the competent home mechanic?

Well that’s all for now, plenty for members to comment on here.

Cheers.

[g8dhe]

Looks like it thisis the one I replaced mine with recently http://mazdabongo.com/catalog/mazda-bon ... ll-models/

[windywatson]

Great, that looks just the ticket. Price is unexpectadly lower than I had antisipated. Did you do the replacement your self?

[g8dhe]

No let me garage do it as there were a couple of other minor things and I'm not built for scrabbling under the van

[ade33]

I did mine after it burst one day and stranded us. I wasn't looking forward to doing it, but it was a very straightforward job. The worst and most time-consuming part (of course!), was bleeding the bleeding thing afterwards.

My rad came from AVA and I thought it excellent quality, delivered quickly and a really good price.

[windywatson]

Radiator ordered + top & bottom hoses. Will be doing the job myself. Question:- there are 2 other small diameter pipes coming off the bottom of the rad. What are they for?
Might even do a tech sheet on it if no one else has.

Cheers

[wonkanoby]

transmission cooler

have something handy to bung in the pipes to reduce loose

[Bob]

And (obviously) top up and check the gearbox fluid once done.

[Gasy]

You don't loose a lot out of the 2 coolant transmission hoses
Especially if you keep them upwards
I've just fitted an extra cooler to mine

[windywatson]

So there's a second circuit inside the radiator that cools the auto gearbox fluid then? Wonder if ones ever failed and mixed rad coolant with the ATF. And how would you know until it became catastrophic.
Any way thanks for the heads up on that. Would not have expected that at all. Always thought that the ATF cooling would be self contained small rad somewhere.

Cheers for the help. As always useful info.

[windywatson]

More questions.
All parts arrived, new rad, hoses & clips etc. Before I get started on swapping it out question is this:- The van has never suffered any overheating problems & coolant has always been clean. So do I need to carry out a coolant system flush with one of the flushing products out there or not? Never sure with an older engine if it may cause any problems. I also have a low coolant alarm & remember reading on the forum about some type of coolant that causes problems as it coats the metal screw. So what is the best coolant to use that wont cause this issue.

Cheers

[Bongolia]

Hi Windy
I would look on this as an opportunity. If your going to the trouble of swapping out the rad take the time (and additional cost) to carry out a system overhaul and flush it,swap out thermostat to..


Radiators have for some time had a dual function like carrying the ATF cooler. Leakage between the two systems can wreck the trans. maybe figure an ATF change at the same time?
Get a cork gasket for the AT sump pan first and be careful not to over tighten it when replacing.

[cmm303]

When/if you do drop the gearbox pan, give the ATF filter a good clean - the shiny thing in this pic