Radiators

Post by **Relfy** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:25 pm

Just out of interest - whats the capacity of a minor radiator?

...And just incase anyone knows/ they are not the same - whats the capacity of a mini radiator?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:17 pm

Capacity in what way ? Water holding capacity - or cooling capacity ? The Mini rad is certainly a whole lot smaller in size - but the air is blasted through it with a multiblade fan and the inrushing air from the car's movement. There are many specialised (and expensive!) rads for Minis - but mine is just a very normal rad yet copes nicely with my 1360 engine on an 88 degree stat without any problems.

Post by **Relfy** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:51 pm

Just the physical capacity in order to drain and refill with antifreeze... ;) Sister's mini which I can't see just advise periodically from a distance and my minor.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 6:05 pm

I put 2 litres antifreeze in my Mini. Minor gets none - it stays indoors during nasty cold weather - but 2 1/2 to 3 will be plenty.

Post by **eastona** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 6:30 pm

I put 2 litres antifreeze in my Mini. Minor gets none - it stays indoors during nasty cold weather - but 2 1/2 to 3 will be plenty.

How do you protect the block and head waterways from rust?

Andrew

Post by **Axolotl** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 6:43 pm

If you mean the capacity of the whole system, it is 9 3/4 Imperial pints (including 1 pint for the heater matrix if fitted).

Call it ten pints, so drain off 2 1/2 pints, and top up with antifreeze, then run the engine (or go for a drive) for 10 minutes or so, with the heater valve open. That'll give you a 25%/75% solution of antifreeze / water which will give you protection for most British winters.

As for not using antifreeze at all. Well, the antifreeze also acts as a wetting agent, and increases the cooling capacity of the system, so even if it isn't needed to stop freezing in winter, it will help it run cooler in summer.

It also acts as a corrosion inhibitor (as pointed out above), so you don't end up having to flush the rust out of your system on a regular basis.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:38 pm

No problems so far - after 6 years like that.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:39 am

No problems so far - after 6 years like that.

no problems that you've seen... ;-)

Having seen inside blocks that haven't had antifreeze for years (many many years) - you can really tell that they have a thick layer of rust on the waterways, preventing them from cooling properly

Post by **Kevin** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:29 pm

Having seen inside blocks that haven't had antifreeze for years (many many years) - you can really tell that they have a thick layer of rust on the waterways, preventing them from cooling properly

Agreed Ray and like me I have no doubt you have seen what a state water pumps can get into as well, I have seen the bypass stub totally blocked and the heater valve, personally I prefer to run a 50% solution mainly for its corrosion inhibiting properties.

Post by **chrisd87** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 4:43 pm

Anti-freeze is a rather good idea - I stripped an engine a while back that must have had just water in it as the water pump was basically a pile of dust.

Post by **ben739** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 4:50 pm

all the radiator chatter, caused me to take mine off, drain it, wash it out for about 15 minutes till the water coming out was clean enough to drink and then put it back on and fill it 40% antifreeze/60% water.

thanks for reminding me its getting winter here, this warm weather here in cornwall made me forget.