my radiator leaks... recore or aluminium?

[Jorge E]

Hello everybody ;O)

 

I'm on the maintenance and restoration project of the Lotus Eclat 2,2 (1980).

 

Original radiator has two leaks on the front side.

 

I need your expert advice: is it better to recore the original radiator or to buy a winner-racing brand aluminium one? Or other different brand?

 

I live in Catalonia - Andorra - Spain and the car is always running on the "hot" side   so I do preffer efficiency over keeping original. Is aluminium better for this purpose?

 

Wath is your advice?

 

Thank you!!

 

Jorge E

 

[mikeeech]

If your concerned about heat then I would change the thermostat for a low temp replacement and stick with a recored rad. An aluminium rad will disipate more heat without doubt and will look better!

[Jorge E]

mikeeech, Buddsy: thank you for the inputs!

 

 

At first the cooling system had a clogged heating radiator, a fault gauge sender and a non working thermostat.

 

I also changed one of the fans because its electric engine burned.

 

Now both fans works fine. Two new thermostats were testet, normal and "hot climate". Heating core is clean. Little change.

 

Engine still runs on the "hot" side (fans activate too often, most of the time, also when riding at 80 km/h on open road...).

 

I agree with Buddsy: "hot climate" thermostat will make the engine run too cool when winter, with no cooling improvement in the summertime over the normal thermostat.

 

And now there is the leaking... I want to get a definitive solution!!

 

Thanks again,

 

Jorge E

[silverfrost]

Purchase the alloy radiator and fit decent quality fans, The new slim line fans are so much of an improvement over the old stock ones,

I have three of the esprit and when i tested them they sucked the sheet of A4 paper out of my hand from a good distance away from the valance !  its like a vortex and speeds up the cooling down process so much

[Dunc]

I'm told the winner racing aluminium radiator is for the excel and is not a direct fit to an eclat. I believe the mountings are different and will need some adapting.

 

that said - the excel guys were very happy with its quality and performance.

[CharlieCroker]

I've just come away from lotusbits and spoke to them about my overheating. They said two things, 1) they do a tripple core rad for £180. 2) and I quote "check the direction of wind flow from your fans, make sure the flow is away from the rad and blowing air back up and out through the vent in the bonnet". You have a leak so a new radiator is your answer.

[Jorge E]

I've just come away from lotusbits and spoke to them about my overheating. They said .......make sure the flow is away from the rad and blowing air back up and out through the vent in the bonnet". 

 

Ah, the flow direction... you're rigth:  I discovered one fan blowed forwards and  the other rearwards!! Gremlin electrics... 

 

After flow direction was solved, cooling improved a little.

Edited September 9, 2015 by Jorge E

[DaKa]

Reading these useful comments and others on heating system worries I'm glad that I didn't buy the aluminium radiator option as I would have struggle if it wasn't a simple swap for an average amateur enthusiast.

Having just watched an episode of wheeler dealers, my old mate Ed China put some waterless coolant into a TR6. 

This seems to be a great idea for my Excel albeit £60 for 5ltrs is a bit steep. However, is there any reason why this may not be suitable for our engines?

[Fueltheburn]

£60 for 5 litres is cheap...it used to cost more AND you will need the preparation fluid.  

You cannot use waterless coolant unless the system has been completely purged of standard water and coolant.  The prep fluid is a de-scaler and a hydroscopic fluid removing the last of the water from the system.

What is not mentioned - more than 3% water left in the system will massively reduce its efficiency.  You also need to replace the pressure cap to a 0 psi cap.

I have been using this in several cars for years.

Evans powercool with an aluminium radiator = a very efficient system.

[Fueltheburn]

Correct.  Not required but it is relation to blowing out the head gasket under boiling conditions.  It reaches 180C before boiling so would scrap the head before blowing a gasket.  Pressuring it to attain a higher boiling point is overkill.