Holts radweld (1 Viewer)

dethleff

Free Member
Aug 21, 2007
33
0
somerset
Funster No
137
Exp
15 years
Hi

I have slight leak, that my Mechanic says is coming from the heater matrix.
He has suggested that I try Holts Radweld.
Has anybody tried this?

Stan
 

Geo

Trader - Funster
Jul 29, 2007
11,757
14,563
Mansfield,Notts
Funster No
35
MH
Autotrail Tracker FB
Exp
45 +years with breaks
Yes I make a living out of changing radiators and heater matrix's blocked up by the stuff:Doh:
if the cooling system is corrosion free IE nice and clean give it a shot, it will only block small holes, however heater matrixes don't normally suffer core damage as the're not exposed like a rad is, its more likely to be a crack in the housing or pipe ends and these will shrink and expaaaaaaaand with temp changes and keep opening the wound so to speak
If your coolant is rust coloured don't use it at all, as the cores in both rad and heater will be partialy blocked with rust already and the rad weld will finish both off
Geo
 

Digger Driver

Free Member
Oct 4, 2007
578
4
Lancashire
Funster No
541
MH
C Class
Exp
1
Its rubbish!
Find your local radiator specialist!
There really quite cheap!

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Oct 14, 2007
3,958
6,131
Rochester
Funster No
619
MH
Auto-Trail Mohawk
Exp
16 fun filled years
I Have to go with Geo on this, as an ex welder I used to mend em from time to time and have seen the effects of it being used first hand. IMHO radweld or the likes should only be used in an emergency. It can block any restictions in the waterways which could lead to the engine overheating.
 

pudseykeith

Free Member
Nov 5, 2007
382
105
Leeds West Riding of York
Funster No
774
MH
A Class
Exp
6 Years
Hi Stan
A far kinder product is 'Bars Leak'. It contains a soluable oil. If you are stuck at the side of the road they are life savers, but not ment to be permanant.
Having said that years ago the company where i worked had a works ambulance [ Morris with a side valve engine] with the block cracked the full length of the water jacket. We put 2 bars leaks in and it closed up the crack like magic and never leaked again over the 4 years i worked there, and withheld a strong mixture of bluecol anti freeze. I have never known one to cause an overheating problem. I always carry one for just in case.
Pudseykeith. :thumb:
 
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dethleff

Free Member
Aug 21, 2007
33
0
somerset
Funster No
137
Exp
15 years
Its rubbish!
Find your local radiator specialist!
There really quite cheap!

Really?

below is a post from a web search.

I have read a posting on here regarding a similar problem to my own. Last year I had a drip inside the cab from the heater matrix spilling antifreeze on the cab floor. No sooner had it started but in a week it had stopped and never to be seen again... until last week when it poured out relentlessly and continues to do so. The local fiat dealer says its a dashboard out job taking 2 days plus parts and it will cost up to £2000. I have now found a local garage who will put in a new heater matrix and do the job in a day, well under the fiat dealers costings. We thought it would be possible to exclude the heater system from the vehicle and bypass the affected leak but no one has been able to do this so the big job must be done. Is this common to the ducato as we're thinking of buying another new one but at 2yrs old this is a costly out of warranty repair. However the vehicle has covered over 97k miles and is faultless apart from an idler gear type rattle, so may be tempted to have another.
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Can I ask what your advice was based on?

Stan

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American Dream

Free Member
Aug 20, 2007
0
156
Lincoln
Funster No
125
MH
?
Exp
?
I have used Rad flush before to clean the cooling system prior to diagnosis.

This only stays in the cooling system for a short time before flushing out.

I never use Radweld or similar because it can cause more problems/make existing problems worse.

Get to the root of the problem and replace parts if necessary.:thumb:

I've had radiator/heater matrix's re-cored before now at a reasonable rate.

Rebuilt the special one on the Lotus myself.
 
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pudseykeith

Free Member
Nov 5, 2007
382
105
Leeds West Riding of York
Funster No
774
MH
A Class
Exp
6 Years
Really?

We thought it would be possible to exclude the heater system from the vehicle and bypass the affected leak but no one has been able to do this so the big job must be done. .
__________________
FIAT Forum Useful Links:

Can I ask what your advice was based on?

Stan

Hi dethleff.
Heaters take water from the engine block and return it back to the block after going through the heater. Both water conections nead to be pluged. Find the 2 hoses that run from the block and into the heater unit or go through the bulk head and ito the cab area. cannot see why this should be a problem. Try bars leak !!
Pudseykeith
 
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American Dream

Free Member
Aug 20, 2007
0
156
Lincoln
Funster No
125
MH
?
Exp
?
Hi dethleff.
Heaters take water from the engine block and return it back to the block after going through the heater. Both water conections nead to be pluged. Find the 2 hoses that run from the block and into the heater unit or go through the bulk head and ito the cab area. cannot see why this should be a problem. Try bars leak !!
Pudseykeith

Either that or loop a hose between the two.

It's going to be B++++y cold in the cooler months.

Personally I'd get the Matrix Rebuilt. Link Removed
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Just a thought. The warm air is also useful for keeping the Windscreen mist free on damp soggy days.You might have problems without it.

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