Stefano Pasini


The radiator leak saga goes on
(January 2018)


As I mentioned in the page about the 'Bernina Gran Turismo' event, the 403's radiator did suddenly leak some water while driving up the Bernina Pass itself. We found out later that the source of this water leak was the relief valve on the radiator, but we couldn't understand why it did that, as its temperature was not high at all.
The real mystery, however, is why the refrigerating liquid simply kept disappearing from the 403's radiator (I added 4 litres of the stuff in several reprises while driving at an altitude between 1900-2300 metres just to maintain it barely visible in the rad) even if there was no visible leak after that first episode and the water temperature was always around 65°C-70°C, tested also with an IR thermometer pointed at the top of the radiator. Then, when we got back to an altitude of 300-400 metres and then almost sea level for the trip back home, no more liquid was needed, so I didn't think about it anymore....until the first days of 2018

Tuesday 2 January 2018 I took the 403 out of her garage to test her again
 
 
I tried to fit a cardboard partial radiator shutter to see if the water temperature could go up to 80-85°C at least; but even with the radiator core almost completely covered, the temperature would not climb over 65°C. A more appropriate thermostat is necessary, I think, as the new one we fitted recently is obviously not the right one
The leak was due to the tap fitted in the bottom of the radiator to allow its easy draining....it leaked only under pressure. We removed it and the leak is gone at last
 


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