radiator hose collapse

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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mik
Posts: 199
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:31 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 Spider Convertible

radiator hose collapse

Post by mik »

I have found my radiator upper hose tends to collapse. I have not had water in my reservoir for as long as I can remember, however I haven't driven it for 15yrs. Can I put fluid into the reservoir and make sure my radiator is topped up and be good, or do I have to do the burping process I have read about? Could the radiator hose just be weak, it has quite a bit of pliability just grabbing it. Thanks, Mik
NJFIAT1981
Posts: 1490
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:55 am
Your car is a: 1970 SPIDER AND A 1976 SPIDER
Location: New Jersey

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by NJFIAT1981 »

Fill it and burp it. Make sure there is fluid in your overflow bottle.
rlux4
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Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
Location: Granite Falls, Wa

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by rlux4 »

When a car has sat for a long time the usual advise to replace all the rubber parts. This definitely applies to the radiator hoses which can collapse on the suction side or burst on the pressure side, both scenarios are step one for over heating.
Ron
Ron Luxmore
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'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
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124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by 124JOE »

also inspect the heater control valve
be sure it moves good with the lever
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
124cso

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by 124cso »

I would have thought that if you have not driven it for 15 years, that it would be prudent to drain the cooling system to help prevent corrosion ? Maybe take out the bungs and even perhaps take off the top hose to be sure the system is nice and dry ?
Kev659

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by Kev659 »

I had a similar problem with my hose collapseing. It ended up being my radiator cap.
leftfield6

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by leftfield6 »

For long term storage, you DO NOT want to drain the system!! Actually, you want the exact opposite of that. Before storage, drain all fluids and replace with fresh! Out with the old coolant, in with fresh, properly burped and filled. Same with the oil.

An empty coolant system is going to corrode no matter how dry you think you have it. Much better off to remove the old coolant with whatever impurities it has picked up, and refill with nice fresh 50/50 mix.

Same logic applies to the fuel tank, by the way, Never drain or leave near empty. You want a nice fresh tank full with a stabilizing agent added to keep the gas from going off.
124cso

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by 124cso »

Means that you would need to keep changing it every few years ( as per instructions on the bottle) !
mik
Posts: 199
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:31 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 Spider Convertible

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by mik »

Thanks for the feedback. Does anyone have suggestions on cleaning the reservoir, has s dark residue and would like to clean it up before I flush system. Thanks again.
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124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by 124JOE »

pull off the overflow bottle and fil half way with pee gravel,and some water and shake it up

or get a long bottle brush

ive heard they both work.joe
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
mik
Posts: 199
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:31 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 Spider Convertible

Re: radiator hose collapse

Post by mik »

I will try both this weekend, thanks for the tip.
Mik
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