Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Hi,

Need some advice please. My Radiator blew up the other day. It cracked at the top where the top hose goes into the top chamber. A long crack along the side.

New one from the stealers is R11000, so I ordered a new one from the UAE for R4000 and R3000 for shipping. (UPS which is totally useless, not delivered yet)

The question is, what caused the crack? Could it be a blocked radiator that the presure was to high or is it just a matter of fatigue?

My Patrol is a 1999 4.5 GRX and as far as I know it is the original radiator.

Your comments will be appreciated.

Wilfred

Hi Wilfred , ive only seen a radiator crack from two reasons
1 - Fatigue , lets hope it is the case here
2 - Headgasket blow into a compresion chamber so the when the engine runs it now builds pressure into the radiator - but this was mmostly on the V8 powered drag racing cars we played with so im not to concerned about it

Either way what also makes me think about fatigue is the fact that if it was pressure build up your radiator cap should have released the pressure long before the tank ruptured

Wilfred as Driko sayd, pressure build-up should be released by the radiator cap, unless there is a huge amount of gas entering the system, to the point that the radiator cap can't cope, and I am fairly sure any problem big enough to do that should have showed it's presence by other means.

So fatigue is the likeliest cause.

Are the radiator mountings all "present and correct"? if there is a problem with one of those, it could do this. If their rubbers are tired, there would be a lot more vibration on the radiator, if there is a mounting missing then the radiator could flex a lot more and if something is bent then the radiator would be under strain all the time.

Wilfred , i spoke to a few radiator guys , seems they are of two opinions - either a cheap aftermarket radiator cap or fialed cap so it doesnt release at the correct pressure or just plain old fatigue , they mostly feel it will be fatigue - i do however have a radiator pressure test kit so if you wish to double check the internal pressure for a possible pressure leak into your radiator give me a shout ill gladly help you

Thanks everybody!!

Grootseun, I will visit you soon. Hopefully I'll fit the radiator tonight, that is if UPS can deliver today. When are you closing for the festive season?

Peter, I had a look and all the mountings are intact and fine, so i will probably settle with the fatigue option.

Wilfred

Wilfred, my company is closing but not my home garage - - and i seem to think that ive got a dangerous amount of tooling in this home garage so we can have a look at that for you anytime just ring me up and we can make a plan

Fitted the radiator last night and all looks fine, the motor sounds as good as always!!

Thanks Grootseun, I will contact you!!

Wilfred

Anytime Wilfred

Wilfred
Ek is miskien n bietjie laat met my post. Ek is bly jy het reggekom.
Jou radiator het gegroet agv ouderdom. Die plastiek tanks en aluminium core sit uit en krinp teen verskillende tempo. Die plastiek bars oop of begin lek waar hy moet seel op die core.
So ja, die water is onder druk. Dit moet so wees, die stelsel is ontwerp om onder druk te loop...
Wat maak jy met die ou core? Ek sal dit koop by jou. Ek sit alu tanke op en dan het jy weer n radiator vir n baie lang tyd. Jy kan dit self laat doen, dan het jy n goeie spaar.
Grootseun jy moet dat ek julle V8's bou, my 500+ hp engine's stoot nie water uit nie.
Groete
Frans

Frans , meeste van daai V8 was so wat na ons toe gebring was met daai probleem , as jy goeie gehalte parte gebruik en ook goeie ingenuerswerk en assembly het is daai nie n probleem nie , klink my jy speel lekker met die motors ne , ek moet se ek mis die dae wat ek my eie workshop gehad het en sulke goed kon aanvang , ek dink dit is tyd om weer so plek te start