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| Rover 800 825 V6 Coupe Replacement Radiator. |
Car: 1999 Rover 800 825 V6 Coupe
Colour: Zircon Silver
Well, It's only a matter of time before things like brakes, tyres, spark plugs, exhausts, and radiators require replacing. In most of these cases the items can be replaced with original equipment items, or with cheaper replacement parts. Although it is also a time when items can be upgraded too! It often depends on things like how often you have to change them, how much you are willing to spend, and how long you intend to keep the car!
Although you can have custom made radiators built for you, unless you are modifying you engine chasing after some serious BHP gains or cannot obtain a radiator to fit your vehicle, then you will probably just require a direct (off the shelf) replacement for your car.
At the time this car was new, it was fitted with a black painted radiator, just as most vehicles of the same period were. These were made with a brass/copper core and plastic side tanks.
Nowadays the replacements are made with an aluminium core with plastic side tanks. Not only, are these are a better product, but they look nicer to. This even applies to the cheaper replacement suppliers products, and at around half the price of one from the dealers we decided to opt for a cheaper one. After all, the radiator has quite a simple task to do, and does not have to perform mechanically.
The old radiator had developed a small leak from the vains in the front face in the upper left area. The top and bottom lines of the radiator were also suffering a little, from a loss of fins, and so it was worthwhile to change the radiator for a new one because these two areas are the areas that do get the greater air flow through them because the entire middle section of the radiator sits behind the air-con condenser (/radiator) and so does not cool as effectively.
Changing them over was quite a straightforward task (there are no sensors to take off and change over on the radiator), and we managed to complete the swap in a morning (Including a trip to the car shop for new coolant). (Then we did the radiator and air-con condenser on the 820 Auto (see page elsewhere in site!) in about 2 and a half hours in the afternoon, just finishing in time, because it began to snow!)
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This Area of the Radiator was Already Missing a Great Deal of Fins, but was now Leaking out Steam/Coolant.
All of the Nuts/Bolts on the Metal Panel (above the Radiator) were Removed along with the Bonnet Release Catch.
The Metal Panel was Removed.
The two Bolts were Removed from the Bonnet Pull Catch (and Bonnet Alarm Contact) to Slacken the Cable to Allow for more Room to Release the Radiator.
The Skid Plate has been Removed and the Bottom Hose Pipe was Disconnected and Coolant Drained. You can also Flush your Radiator at this point if you Choose too. The Top pipe was then Disconnected too.
The Original Radiator has now been lifted out, leaving the Air Conditioning Condenser in Place.
This is what the Front of the Original Radiator Looked like. The Fins Missing from the Top and Bottom Rows of Vains are the Most Exposed Areas of the Radiator.
The Rear of the Radiator shows how the two Fans are Mounted to it. The Shielded Fan is the One that Sits in front of the Air Filter Box, Thus Reducing the Amount of Hot Air to Escape into that Side of the Engine Bay.
The Most Difficult Part of Changing these Radiators, is Removing the Rusty Nuts to Remove the Fans!
This is the Front of the New Aluminium Radiator.
This is the Rear of the New Aluminium Radiator, with the Two Fans Attached.
The New Radiator with the Two Fans Attached, has now been Lowered into Place.
The New Radiator is now in Place.
The Metal Panel and Securing Bolts Have been Refitted. The Rubber Bungs in the Panel Were Replaced with New Ones.
The Bonnet Catches have been Refitted and the Bonnet Release Cable has been Cable Tied back in Place, and the Radiator Hoses Have Been Connected.
The Radiator and Cooling System were then Filled with the Correct New AntiFreeze/Coolant, Mixed 50/50 with De-Ionised Water (In Preference to using Tap Water). With no Leaks around the Radiator Hoses the Skid Plate was Refitted.
After a Short Drive the Fluids were Topped up. The KV6 had by now Taken the Required 7 Litres, suggesting no Air Locks in the System.
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