Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

OK.........Silverton just called.

Crack in some plastic bit.

Need to replace radiator.

K..............

1) Called Graham Cummings, NO aftermarket/pirate radiators available. Graham recommends a new OE one. Cost +- R 9000. He also recommends a new thermostat and hoses, while I'm at it.

2) Awie at hot4cold can only help next year.

3) Called a Guy, he makes alu expansion tanks, takes about 2 days. Cost +- R 1500.

..............

Take Option (1) and get it done??

Or Option (3), just a sort of "temporary fix" and let hot4cold build me a nice, bigger capacity one in January??

Update, might be of help to someone else:

Radiator and Thermostat...........R 9421.35 at Nissan.

Hoses/clamps/brackets still fine, I'll do that next year, maybe a set of Maximum Traction hoses.

AND Nissan has stock........only 8 radiators at Rosslyn.

OK, Seven

For hoses, I got mine from Marinus (Terrain Tamer 4x4) here on the forum. Delivered to your door nogal for a lot less than Nissan, and its a fantastic quality product. Mine are on now for 2 or maybe even 3 years now, still look and feel good.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing once you replace or repair the radiator is GOOD QUALITY anti-freeze/coolant. Don't buy cheep sheeeeeet, as the acid content may not be correct for the motor and it will either eat the metal away over time or not keep the deposits at bay. I recently replaced my waterpump and this insides of my block shows no sign of rust buildup. In fact it looks super clean. If you use Silvertons own coolant they supply, which is what I have been using for the last 6-7-8 years then 6 x 1L bottles and the balance distilled water (if you have 8 spare litres) or clean "soft" water.

Jack the front of the patrol up as high as you can, or park it on a nice uphill slope so the front is nice and high, to help the bubbles come to the front of the motor and out to the radiator.

I slowly fill mine up VERY slowly with the engine off with 5 bottles of coolant, then about 3 litres of water. The start the motor and dump the last bottle of coolant in, then top up with water till its nearly to the top. Let the motor warm up. Put the aircon on and get the revs up till the thermostat opens up. then top up till full and put the cap on. give it a good few revs to push any bubbles out the thermostat and into the radiator. Go for a drive till its at full operating temp.

When you get home fill up the expansion tank next to the air filter to above the hot line and go have a cold beer. Next morning check if the water level had dropped in the expansion tank. Top up as required, en daar gaan jy. I'd also get a new radiator cap (I think its a 0.9 bar) for pure peace of mind. (keep the old one as a spare just incase of an emergency)

Maybe chat with Marinus about a Aussie Patrol radiator. I'n not sure if they carry them, but worth a try.

http://www.terrainparts.co.za/
here is Marinus PM details
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=953

Thanks ricster, ag I sommer took the OE one, leaving for Roma next week Wednesday so time is of essence, would really REALLY like to go with the Datspin.

Got the rad and also sommer a new thermostat, while everything is "open". Will sort the hoses etc etc too, then I know all is good.

THANKS for all you Guys' help, appreciated!!!

Lyk my die ding is aansteeklik

Petri, i think you made the right call.

If not for the time thing, the all-aluminium Universal Coolers job is the answer, but since they can't help, new OEM is never a bad option.

JohnBoy.... you need to sort that out bud..... I get goosebumps looking at that.....

Seen it lots of times viskus radiator the colling system starts problems at 175k or 10 years then you must maar make out and fix what needs to be fixed ....
John let then weld new tanks on works great if the core is good but we found the the aftermarket 4.8 radiator has less pipes than oem one