Cracked Radiator End Tank

[Fixxxer]

Ok anyways, just had my car serviced a week or two ago. New coolant and new water pump. Driving home yesterday I noticed some white smoke drift past from near the front of the car while stopped for a moment, because I was close to the car infront, I just passed it off as some random smoke from the car infront or from beside me (3lane each way road).

Thought I should keep an eye on the temp and oil pressure gauges just incase. Didn't see anything else until about a minute or two later when I saw white smoke coming from the bonnet, took it straight out of gear (it stalled then) and pulled over. I was watching temp gauge regularly (every 20 sec or so) before that and didn't notice a change in needle position prior to this. Check radiator, zero coolant in the radiator. Got a tow. Problem found this morning was a crack in the plastic radiator end tank, apparently drained all coolant out, no coolant circulating may be why the temp needle didn't seem to change. Didn't notice any white smoke out back of car while driving (although I don't look out the back much, and have dark 20% tint).

Is the random cracking of plastic end tanks common in R32's, skylines?

What are my options, 2nd hand radiator (probably run into same problem), new radiator $$$$??? Car is being tested tomorrow morning to see if internal damage is a result of the overheating.... poor compression, blown head gasket, etc.... I'd hate to lose an engine on something this stupid.

ANyways, gimme your feedback...

Fixxxer

[Beer Baron]

new tank should be fairly cheap. they will flush and clean the core too while the tank is off. top tanks cracking is pretty common on lots of cars. not just 32s.

the factory temp gauge is pretty useless. it stays dead in the middle from about 65 degrees until about 110 degrees so as not to alarm the driver. it's an idiot gauge.

i would say your engine 'should' be ok. what was the oil temp like?

[Fixxxer]

No oil temp gauge on my car, just the oil pressure, which seems to be dodgy on the odd occasion aswell (sometimes idles at 2 on the gauge, sometimes about 1/2 that.

So these can be repaired easily?? Well thats something I guess.

Fixxxer

[arep3]

ive seen full alloy radiators at autobarn for like $299. i had the top tank on my radiator replaced for $260... i hope things work out for u.

[Wheezy]

ive seen full alloy radiators at autobarn for like $299. i had the top tank on my radiator replaced for $260... i hope things work out for u.

Ron, I wouldnt touch them with 20 foot clown pole...and you know what my job is....

take it to a radiator specialst, and get a new tank and a good clean of the rad... Fact is the standard R32 radiator is pretty good for what it is, no need to put in an aliminium one unless your chasing some serious power

Edited December 6, 2006 by Wheezy

[R31Nismoid]

Just buy a second hand one, cheaper IMO.

Get it flushed from a radiator place and away you go

And Richard - totally agree. The gauge is absolutely pointless.

Mine behaves just as you said and its an RB25 sensor.

Thankgod for the PFC Handcontroller

[arep3]

Ron, I wouldnt touch them with 20 foot clown pole...and you know what my job is....

yea true. true

[Bass Junky]

R32 radiator = at least 15 years old. Hence why its busted

$375 buys you a triple core from Just Jap.

Mine works tops

[paulr33]

the default water temp retard is 5deg at 100deg water temp

you guys should dial in more ign retard to protect the engine

im gonna set mine at about

100 15deg

90 8deg

[Fixxxer]

I decided to go with a replaced top end tank, not the best solution, but is relatively cheap and I get the car back on the road quick smart, which is my main aim.

Fixxxer

[arep3]

I decided to go with a replaced top end tank, not the best solution, but is relatively cheap and I get the car back on the road quick smart, which is my main aim.

Fixxxer

exactly wat i did mate. nice n easy

[HRthirtyone]

in the HR31 skylines, they have a single core radiator.

in the australian delivered they have double core radiator the same size.

all the imports like r32s silvias etc have pissy little radiators.

My point being they were not intended for Australian conditions. They have to be in tip top shape to handle 40+ days, i.e. good working pump, no leaks, working thermostat. That said, it should be common practise for any car of age.

i went to the Just Jap Cooling Pro radiator, and noticed a 4-8 degree drop on an average drive, today was 40 degrees and the temp was sitting on 80degrees the whole 30min drive home from work. that rox the sox of any other car ive owned, turbo & non turbo

[Bl4cK32]

U didnt have one of them high pressure rad caps from greddy or some shit on there?

1.3 Bar radiator cap + 15yo plastic top tank will let go

[Cubes]

Is the random cracking of plastic end tanks common in R32's, skylines?

What are my options, 2nd hand radiator (probably run into same problem), new radiator $$$$??? Car is being tested tomorrow morning to see if internal damage is a result of the overheating.... poor compression, blown head gasket, etc.... I'd hate to lose an engine on something this stupid.

ANyways, gimme your feedback...

Fixxxer

Mine did this some years ago.. It had some where around 100,000km's on the clock at the time. Its now done 225,000km's.

The same as you.. I did a recent service that replaced all major hoses, waterpump, cam belt etc. Saw what looked like smoke. Pulled over but I managed to track it down to the snout had simply gone brittle and crumbled under the new hose clamp.

I wouldn't be too concerned about internal damage from overheating, these rb20's are damn tough.

When I first got mine ~5years ago it had a dodgy guage temp sender that had the temp sitting on 1/4 the majority of the time and in hot weather 1/2. It ran 2 x 12" thermo's. During hot weather the car would feel quite sluggish and spew its coolant out. After replacing the temp sender it turned out the car in hot weather was driving around ON THE H!!! It was like this for a whole summer. To this day I am still amazed the motor was fine.

But yes.. back to the radiator tank... My top tank was the buggered. Natrad replaced the top tank for $90 inc labour + coolant + rodding the radiator.

So head down the local radiator workshop, they should know what top tank to use. It does look slightly different, most likely of an R31 or something, but it works, fits and looks tidy so thats all that matters.

----

The R32's run a thicker radiator than the Silvia's etc.. I believe the rads are identical to the GTR.

Measuring the side of the core mine measures up at 50mm.

It copes fine with hot weather, with the a/c off it will peak at around 87 in traffic or up a long hill, general cruising it sits on the usual 84degree's that it sits on even on those 4degree winter mornings.

With the A/C on it will peak 95 generally or 100degree's if really stuck in traffic on a 40degree day. But it doesn't go much over that and once moving a little the engine temps come down really quick to under 90.

BUT.. You can't beat the justjap rad.. Simply awesome price/performance.

[GTRsean]

Yeah put a cooling pro in mine and it's doing what it's supposed to do! Top end tank snout on old radiator was suffed too. All good now.

[Fixxxer]

Hey guys, just an update. As said before I had the end (top) tank replaced. The engine tested fine, did a CO2 test and it came back perfect, so no engine damage *phew*.

I think I have been driving around for a long time (winter and last summer) with very little water (due to a stuffed water pump leaking profusely through the weep hole). The temp needle never went over half way, even in hot weather and stop/start driving into the city every morning/afternoon. When the water pump was replaced it was noted there was very little water. I think the car has been continually running hot pretty much since I got the car, and why I think the end tank finally gave out after continually running hot.

I will check the radiator fluid more regulalry from now on, because I can't trust the temp needle at all.

Fixxxer

[GeeTR]

After replacing the temp sender it turned out the car in hot weather was driving around ON THE H!!! It was like this for a whole summer.

Good JEsUs! thats truly insane, makes me feel better about a short overheating stint my RB saw once