General Out with the Old...

[Adam1984]

So out with the old and in with the new.. thank you to my mechanic for changing my stater motor and alternator today . See images attached of the old starter. Although this time, when investigating the coolant. He has found a coolant leak through the radiator. See images also. New Radiator is now needed, and said this is what would have been causing the white smoke from the front of my engine.

Any recommendations on a radiator brand?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Any recommendations on a radiator brand?

Whatever you can get in time
But not from a random source on Amazon.

 

[Adam1984]

Whatever you can get in time
But not from a random source on Amazon.

Is it normal for the radiator to be broken at 63,700 miles?

I can see there is an NRF for £57.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

It’s not a function of miles but a mix of age, and what it’s been exposed to to make it corrode. In fact, low mileage could make it worse

So many possibilities:

• A pressure washer can destroy a radiator very quickly.
• Exposure to harsh car cleaning chemicals such as Traffic Film Remover and some cheaper Snow Foams are really bad news for anything made of aluminium- the caustic solution will dissolve aluminium.
• Hitting a bump hard enough can shake and break a radiator.
• And a stone thrown up through the airways in the bumper (underneath the numberplate) can cause damage.
• If a car is hot and plunged into a cold puddle/flood, the thermal shock can break things
• And so on
• And, none of this would trigger an error - hence my comments about ‘just looking’ for things that aren’t right. Monthly at the very least

 

[Adam1984]

It’s not a function of miles but a mix of age, and what it’s been exposed to to make it corrode. In fact, low mileage could make it worse

So many possibilities:

• A pressure washer can destroy a radiator very quickly.
• Exposure to harsh car cleaning chemicals such as Traffic Film Remover and some cheaper Snow Foams are really bad news for anything made of aluminium- the caustic solution will dissolve aluminium.
• Hitting a bump hard enough can shake and break a radiator.
• And a stone thrown up through the airways in the bumper (underneath the numberplate) can cause damage.
• If a car is hot and plunged into a cold puddle/flood, the thermal shock can break things
• And so on
• And, none of this would trigger an error - hence my comments about ‘just looking’ for things that aren’t right. Monthly at the very least

What brand radiator would you go for?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Is it normal for the radiator to be broken at 63,700 miles?

I can see there is an NRF for £57.

A genuine Fiat one is over £350… which gives you a hint that £57 might not be much good?

I don’t know what counts as a ‘good make’ but would take advice from your mechanic. I’d be looking to see what a local motor parts shop (‘motor factor’) can get - their reputation is based on customers being happy. For me, that’s Bennett’s, but if not, then GSF or ECP.

Shop4Parts: https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Product&ProdID=16989

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Here’s a couple at GSF (so maybe £57 isn’t *too* bad)

 

[The Panda Nut]

If it were me buying I would be looking for Denso the OE supplier, but get it from an established local supplier and get the best warranty / value combination you can. Two year warranty is the absolute minimum acceptable for me. Long warranties from unknown eBay suppliers are probably worthless. See if Original Birth do one, I dont know but their warranty is sound. You may need the upper and lower quick release elbows too Ive never had one re seal after removal, and this may mean hoses are needed to get them. Gates hoses have worked for me and were cheap on the eBay.

 

[Adam1984]

If it were me buying I would be looking for Denso the OE supplier, but get it from an established local supplier and get the best warranty / value combination you can. Two year warranty is the absolute minimum acceptable for me. Long warranties from unknown eBay suppliers are probably worthless. See if Original Birth do one, I dont know but their warranty is sound. You may need the upper and lower quick release elbows too Ive never had one re seal after removal, and this may mean hoses are needed to get them. Gates hoses have worked for me and were cheap on the eBay.

Do you mean the lower connection hose with the special clip?

I can't find the Denso anywhere, I was looking for that but can't find it.

Other one I have seen with a 2 year warranty is a brand called NRF for £56.

I am getting new coolant too. I have seen Prestone do a universal coolant suitable for all vehicles. Will this be ok with the Panda?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Prestone Universal is ‘just’ Ethylene Glycol — the main ingredient in antifreeze. (And this is why it’s ’universal’). But OAT coolant has added chemicals to protect the engine, and especially the aluminium bits. We know from two previous posts of yours you already have two lots of the ‘correct’, pink antifreeze. I’d use that personally (Prestone is handy as a top up because you can buy it anywhere - it let me top the Landy up while away in Norfolk, as it’s sold in Tesco in Hunstanton, not a place renowned for it’s abundance of car parts places )

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

I suspect the Shop4Parts original will be Denso.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Do you mean the lower connection hose with the special clip?

I can't find the Denso anywhere, I was looking for that but can't find it.

Other one I have seen with a 2 year warranty is a brand called NRF for £56.

I am getting new coolant too. I have seen Prestone do a universal coolant suitable for all vehicles. Will this be ok with the Panda?

Yes the bottom hose has the elbow fitting held in the rad with a spring clip. I think the top hose has the same fitting. Yours might go back ok but beig aware and ready if it doesnt saves stress.
Because the top end of the bottom hose is a pain to get at I bought the bottom hose with elbow, but removed and used the elbow on the old hose as that is still, even now, 5years on in good condition. Denso are the OEM supplier. They are available on ebay if you search Fiat Panda 1.2 Denso radiator. But use a decent esatblished supplier so you do actually have a meaningful warranty. I think the cheapest Denso rad Ive seen was £79 but they are decent quality. OK cheaper parts may be fine, but if you have the car 3 years or so its insurance against having to replace again.

 

[Adam1984]

Yes the bottom hose has the elbow fitting held in the rad with a spring clip. I think the top hose has the same fitting. Yours might go back ok but beig aware and ready if it doesnt saves stress.
Because the top end of the bottom hose is a pain to get at I bought the bottom hose with elbow, but removed and used the elbow on the old hose as that is still, even now, 5years on in good condition. Denso are the OEM supplier. They are available on ebay if you search Fiat Panda 1.2 Denso radiator. But use a decent esatblished supplier so you do actually have a meaningful warranty. I think the cheapest Denso rad Ive seen was £79 but they are decent quality. OK cheaper parts may be fine, but if you have the car 3 years or so its insurance against having to replace again.

Thank you.

So worth getting a top hose and a bottom hose then, did you say you had gates ones?

Thanks.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Thank you.

So worth getting a top hose and a bottom hose then, did you say you had gates ones?

Thanks.

Gates Yes. It fitted perfectly. Fiat hose £125! Gates was £10 but a 5 years back. I would get the hoses or fittings on past experience, but you might want to try it first.

 

[Adam1984]

Gates Yes. It fitted perfectly. Fiat hose £125! Gates was £10 but a 5 years back. I would get the hoses or fittings on past experience, but you might want to try it first.

Thank you.

So just these 2?

I am so confused and sorry to ask again about coolant. Why when I go on some places it says I need longlife red.

But when I go elsewhere on another site. It says I need something else. See picture. It says matches Fiat specifications too.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Thank you.

So just these 2?

I am so confused and sorry to ask again about coolant. Why when I go on some places it says I need longlife red.

But when I go elsewhere on another site. It says I need something else. See picture. It says matches Fiat specifications too.

Looks about right. The bottom hose should be Gates 05-3588... Im sitting with one right now (saddo)

Longlife red will be the antifreeze. Halfords do OAT neat at sensible prices. Its pink stuff. They also do ready to go mixed antifreeze for a bit more dosh. Its what I use in all of ours.
I have two sources of water. Dehumidifier and rainwater butt. I prefer rain water but it always needs filtering to get rid of bugs. Tap water from hardwater areas like here, is no good.

 

[Adam1984]

Looks about right. The bottom hose should be Gates 05-3588... Im sitting with one right now (saddo)

Longlife red will be the antifreeze. Halfords do OAT neat at sensible prices. Its pink stuff. They also do ready to go mixed antifreeze for a bit more dosh. Its what I use in all of ours.
I have two sources of water. Dehumidifier and rainwater butt. I prefer rain water but it always needs filtering to get rid of bugs. Tap water from hardwater areas like here, is no good.

This one? ...

 

[The Panda Nut]

Yep. If buying from Halfords they can tell you in store and have a computer parts look up gaget in shop. They do a price promise too. I got prices for oil on teh net and Halfords in fairness matched it withour argument, You do have to show themwhere the better price is for this but it means you can make use of local supply and a decent warranty backup.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

What you need is OAT, which, when diluted to be 50/50 product and water is pink. It is long life (10 years).

Note: if you buy the concentrate (which may well be ‘dark pink, ie, red) it needs diluting with distilled water, which the ‘ready to use’ is already diluted with. That needs to be factored in to the cost.

Personally I use the Halfords one and it’s fine, convenient, always on their shelves and is a good price.

 

[Adam1984]

What you need is OAT, which, when diluted to be 50/50 product and water is pink. It is long life (10 years).

Note: if you buy the concentrate (which may well be ‘dark pink, ie, red) it needs diluting with distilled water, which the ‘ready to use’ is already diluted with. That needs to be factored in to the cost.

Personally I use the Halfords one and it’s fine, convenient, always on their shelves and is a good price.

Thank you.

I purchased this longlife ready to use red coolant and antifreeze, it says it's oat, so think it's correct?