7 replies to this topic

[TheJadedStoic]

Hi All,

 

I'm a little bit lost on where to go from here with my overheating K20a2 powered mini. It only overheats when its properly driven up a steep hill at full revs... Driving on the road normally its ok.

 

To cut a long story short, I've already searched the forums and have found a good list of parts that people use for a front mounted radiator (The engine is in the back, so the bonnet is pretty empty...

 

From what I've researched, people tend to use either;

• The radiator from ZCars
• Mk1 Golf Radiator
• The original Honda Radiator
• Literally any radiator because it was cheap

I initially contacted ZCars about getting a radiator from them because I haven't read a single bad review about them. Unfortunately, they haven't responded to my email and I can't find on any market place.

 

Because I'm not worried about the size of a radiator fitting in to the engine bay, I'm tempted to say 'F*** it' and buy the MED Extreme front mounted radiator because I'm apparently 5 and like the look of a radiator the uses all the available grill space.

 

The reason I haven't already purchased it, is because I'm not sure if this is 'Overkill' and will make the engine run too cold?

I've already stalked a few threads, such as this one (http://www.theminifo...treme radiator) which say I should be fine as long as the thermostat works.

 

Essentially my questions are;

• Has anyone had any experience with a MED Extreme front mounted radiator?
• Could a modern motor have problems with being too cool?
• Does anyone have any experiences with a radiator on a K20?

 

[TheJadedStoic]

I'm not sure if its worth mentioning that the radiator which came with the car, looks like it came from a mk3 ford Cortina.

[dyshipfakta]

It won’t make the engine run cold if an appropriate thermostat is fitted. Too much cooling capacity is better then not enough for sure.

[DeadSquare]

If the engine is in the back, why not fit a lighter aluminium air cooled one from a VW ?

[TheJadedStoic]

It won’t make the engine run cold if an appropriate thermostat is fitted. Too much cooling capacity is better then not enough for sure.

 

If the engine is in the back, why not fit a lighter aluminium air cooled one from a VW ?

I was tempted to go down the Golf based on how accessible parts are to be honest but haven't given it much going over. I'll have more of an investigation, thanks

It won’t make the engine run cold if an appropriate thermostat is fitted. Too much cooling capacity is better then not enough for sure.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking too.

[Benoit_Dupont]

Maybe I am wrong but if you have the Rad in the front and the engine in the back of the car, you need a seriously upgraded water pump to get a good enough flow. You'll need a higher through put before anything else. So maybe it's not the radiator itself which is an issue.

[dyshipfakta]

Maybe I am wrong but if you have the Rad in the front and the engine in the back of the car, you need a seriously upgraded water pump to get a good enough flow. You'll need a higher through put before anything else. So maybe it's not the radiator itself which is an issue.

Nah it doesn’t really work like that aslong as the pump flows it will move the water where it needs to go. MGF I had before was a bugger mid engine with big long coolant pipes to the front and that just had the standard pump from the old k series metro. Mind you that did overheat and cook gaskets pretty frequently

[TheJadedStoic]

 

Maybe I am wrong but if you have the Rad in the front and the engine in the back of the car, you need a seriously upgraded water pump to get a good enough flow. You'll need a higher through put before anything else. So maybe it's not the radiator itself which is an issue.

Nah it doesn’t really work like that aslong as the pump flows it will move the water where it needs to go. MGF I had before was a bugger mid engine with big long coolant pipes to the front and that just had the standard pump from the old k series metro. Mind you that did overheat and cook gaskets pretty frequently

 

Yeah, that's the logic of the radiator I was going with. I believe the pump is stock but there is enough water to compensate for the extra distance required.

To update this topic. I have bought an old alloy radiator from a colleagues old Civic type r, that's gone to the scrappy. It seems to have solved the heating issue for now...