Bongo Fury

Hi all,

Just bought a new radiator from ebay, after being offered 2nd hand radiators for a hundred quid!
I feel a little silly asking but is there a difference between the auto and manual radiator?
Needed the part asap and it was a good price but just a little worried now that I'll get it and its naff!

Thanks

Didn't know radiators had a gearbox (sorry! - just being daft!!)
I don't know, but can't see why they should be different.

It was something to do with an out let for the auto box cooler? but I have not clue! sound like Im being a bit thick, should be fine I hope!
Ive re-decorated the engine bay with coolant! so I think I better get it sorted before Im buying a new engine of ebay!!!

Have to say I've never looked that closely at my rad (4wd auto), but the factsheet mentions undoing gearbox oil hoses.

Hi Hector

Look carefully at the top of the new rad. It may have an 'overflow pipe' at the side of the radiator cap. You should find that your knackered rad hasn't got the said pipe. If that's the case, you need to blank that pipe off on your replacement unit. Two jubliee clips, a three or four inch length of hosepipe with the correct bore size and an appropriate bolt rammed up one end should do the job.

Members of this site are developing a healthy paranoia about overheating Bongos. Would you plesae explain the circumstances of your rad's demise.

Hope all goes well. Check the site for detailed info on bleeding.

Take care

Pat Mc Kenna

If your radiator has a pressure cap fitted there is no need to blank off the outlet pipe in the neck if it has one. If it doesn't have a pressure cap it would be easier to get one. £4.50 off ebay. If your new rad doesn't have a outlet pipe it won't matter what sort of cap you fit.

The outlet pipe that Pat mentioned is the same as on waycars, and needs blocking off, original Mazda radiators do not have the extra pipe!

Mine's got an outlet pipe by the radiator cap.

Its there to redirect the hot water/steam if the cap blows.

Block it off at your peril...its there to offer the line of least resistance.

I think you will find the header tank should have the pressure cap Harry, rad should just have a cap. It can still let off steam if necessary but it does it at the header tank, not the radiator.

Auto boxes usually have an oil line going into the radiator for additional cooling/heating. If the radiator has it and you don't need it it will be easy to block off but the other way round will be a problem. You need to have a look under your Bongo to make sure. The lines will be very obvious.

Are plastic header tanks entirely happy being deluged with hot steam. Might some means of blow-off at the rad. offer the header tank some Defence Against The Dark Steam?

The pipe in question if unplugged leads to a loss of coolant in the system-- not a good thing to happen

Pete, are you referring to :-
A) 'Auto boxes usually have an oil line going into the radiator for additional cooling/heating. If the radiator has it and you don't need it it will be easy to block off but the other way round will be a problem. You need to have a look under your Bongo to make sure. The lines will be very obvious.'

or

B) 'Look carefully at the top of the new rad. It may have an 'overflow pipe' at the side of the radiator cap. You should find that your knackered rad hasn't got the said pipe. If that's the case, you need to blank that pipe off on your replacement unit. Two jubliee clips, a three or four inch length of hosepipe with the correct bore size and an appropriate bolt rammed up one end should do the job.'

Sorry I was not too clear I meant B Van

Nice one Pete, well worth pointing this out or else you could end up with an empty Header Tank and if you have not got one of Haydns super early warning devices you may not notice it for a week or two.