Earlier automobile radiators were made of copper and brass alloys. Soldering could be used to repair them. However, radiators with aluminum cores and plastic top and bottom tanks are used in a number of later vehicles, including the Mini Metro.
Such things can be damaged if a hose or pressure cap is forced off or a clip is overtightened.
A home mechanic cannot repair the damage, and must usually be replaced. Because aluminum does not dissipate heat as well as copper, there must be more fins on the core, which is easily clogged by road debris.
However, there is one advantage: lightweight radiators typically have simple fixings and are simple to remove.
Disconnecting radiator hoses and fittings
Check the hoses and clips before removing it. If the hoses are cracked or deteriorated, or the clips are corroded, replace them. Screw clips should always be used in place of wire clips.
Make notes or drawings of how all of that connections fit if necessary.
In addition to the top and bottom hoses, there may be pipes to an expansion tank and electrical leads to a temperature gauge or automatic electric-fan switch that must be disconnected.
An electric fan could be attached to this. Depending on the design, you either remove it to free up space for the radiator or remove it. Consult the car service manual.
To free the radiator, you may need to remove the fan cowl on both electrical and mechanical fans.
Some vehicles have a splash shield beneath the radiator that must be removed. Automatic transmission vehicles may have a gearbox oil cooler installed in the bottom of the standard radiator, with screw-on unions for the oil pipes.
Before removing any radiator with electrical connections, disconnect the battery. The pressure cap should then be removed, and the radiator should be drained.
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