Tombo Radiators
Posted: 28 Jul 2017 12:46
My radiator was replaced last year following an unfortunate incident with a broken fan. Graham replaced it with a Tombo radiator, and I believe several other forum members also have these radiators.
I've always had one thing which has made me uncomfortable with the Tombo radiator, and that is the fact that the top expansion tank seems to be very close to the inside of the bonnet when the bonnet is closed - so much so that there are definite light scratches on both the expansion tank, as well as the inside of my bonnet from vibrations whilst driving. Because this has always bothered me, (ie: basically ever since I've had the radiator installed and noticed that there seemed to be contact between the radiator and bonnet), I regularly put that funny sticky foam tape onto of the radiator as well as on the inside of the bonnet - ie: Just so that there is no metal-to-metal contact between the two...
In any case, my worst fears realised this morning. Over the last two days, the vehicle lost water. Not a lot, but enough to require a bit of a refill of the overflow tank in the morning. Yesterday I checked all the clamps. This morning, after dropping the kids off at school, I popped the hood. Noticed a bit of water oozing out from under my foam sticky tape type thing. Removing this, there was a very fine jet of water spraying out from the top expansion tank - right where the potential contact with the inside of the bonnet would be. I can only assume that my most recent trips to Mozambique and Lesotho (long distances on sub-optimal roads) were the final straw.
I've chatted with Graham, and I'll get the thing fixed. But it just worries me, as this appears to be something which could happen again.... I'm not sure whether my radiator is just strange - ie: not entirely built to specificaiton.
Is there anybody else with a 4.5 with a Tombo radiator who can clarify whether your radiator also sits as "tightly" as mine ? ie: Does your radiator make a definite mark on the bonnet or vice-versa ?
In the meantime, and after chatting with Graham, I've plugged the leak with radiator epoxy. I will see if it holds in an hour.
I've always had one thing which has made me uncomfortable with the Tombo radiator, and that is the fact that the top expansion tank seems to be very close to the inside of the bonnet when the bonnet is closed - so much so that there are definite light scratches on both the expansion tank, as well as the inside of my bonnet from vibrations whilst driving. Because this has always bothered me, (ie: basically ever since I've had the radiator installed and noticed that there seemed to be contact between the radiator and bonnet), I regularly put that funny sticky foam tape onto of the radiator as well as on the inside of the bonnet - ie: Just so that there is no metal-to-metal contact between the two...
In any case, my worst fears realised this morning. Over the last two days, the vehicle lost water. Not a lot, but enough to require a bit of a refill of the overflow tank in the morning. Yesterday I checked all the clamps. This morning, after dropping the kids off at school, I popped the hood. Noticed a bit of water oozing out from under my foam sticky tape type thing. Removing this, there was a very fine jet of water spraying out from the top expansion tank - right where the potential contact with the inside of the bonnet would be. I can only assume that my most recent trips to Mozambique and Lesotho (long distances on sub-optimal roads) were the final straw.
I've chatted with Graham, and I'll get the thing fixed. But it just worries me, as this appears to be something which could happen again.... I'm not sure whether my radiator is just strange - ie: not entirely built to specificaiton.
Is there anybody else with a 4.5 with a Tombo radiator who can clarify whether your radiator also sits as "tightly" as mine ? ie: Does your radiator make a definite mark on the bonnet or vice-versa ?
In the meantime, and after chatting with Graham, I've plugged the leak with radiator epoxy. I will see if it holds in an hour.
