Radiator Differences for VZ?
Hi Guys,
Just recently had my only 3 month old radiator in my VZ SV6 (190kw, 5-Speed Auto) bust on me.
I've seen some difference types of VZ radiators on various sites and i am confused.
What are the differences between the standard VZ V6 Radiators and the VZ SV6 Auto Radiators?
The one that just busted had a condensor or something facing frontwards behind the front grille, along with fins for what looks like oil coolers?
I am trying to get it replaced but as that one was replaced 3 months ago, thinking maybe the mechanic got the wrong one when he did it?
Donating Member
Did it not come with a warranty?
Yes it did, but i don't really trust this mechanic to begin with, but as my car is now only sitting in my driveway, with no way of getting it to another mechanic, he is my only option (mobile mechanic, come to me)Originally Posted by aaronevolution
It's just when looking, it seems there are different types, ones with or without fins, etc for the oil cooling, just wanting to know what is 'standard' for the VZ V6 and then standard for the VZ SV6
I just don't want to have it replaced again and then it busts again in 3 months or so.
P-plater
I have a manual so I'm not sure but auto radiators usually have a trans cooler built in. Sometimes they have an independant cooler.
Originally Posted by Little Red VZ Go-Kart
1. Why would you want to floor it, or move it to the red line? Especially with the lack of airbags and ABS features!? What do you hope to achieve by that??Originally Posted by HoldenV8
give everything a spray with wd40 wheels brakes that should fix the squeaks
Alloytec Racing
If you want a Genuine Radiator, call holden, qoute your VIN and they will be able to match it up for you.
If you have an auto, then why not mod it up and protect your g/box by fitting a designated aftermarket transmission cooler. Then i guess you can get a radiator for a manual,
I am only assuming the autos have a dediacted transmission cooler and this is what he is talking about. Hope that helps!
Life starts at 200km/h
6 speed
I'd be wary of holden dealers when it comes to radiators...
i needed a new one, decided to ring holden for a price....... $400 just for the radiator.
rang the shop i'd used before, fitted, flushed and filled for $400...
told him what the dealer quoted me and replied with " thats funny, i supply that dealer with the radiators"
Chev badges are an instant fail
i just blew mine too, i would strongly recoment getting it towed to a place rather then a mobile mech, i had 2 mobile guys quote me around the $650ish, but ended up getting it done for $190 (referb) + $60 tow + $80 lab n 20 for coolant.. worked out to save around 300, they just play on the fact they think your stranded.
Alloytec Racing
I would give it a go myself before paying that much, cant be too hard!
Life starts at 200km/h
Yeah I'm the same. Radiator really isn't that hard to change. Make sure you put antifreeze in the new one or it won't last. Some of the cheap mechanics don't even do this!
HOLDEN COMMODORE VZ V6 RADIATOR AUTO/MAN 04-06 *H/DUTY* | eBay
I think I bought mine off this place when the plastic cracked on mine about 6 months ago.
Do it yourself its very easy, just a pain on fitting it back in as it is a little tricky with the clips.
Just unclip the fans, and pop the bottom clips and disconnect the pipes and its out.
Oops and dont forget to drain the coolant
I just have a suspicion this radiator is not the correct one required for the VZ SV6 Auto as it has a condensor or compressor sitting at the front of the radiator that i never noticed on the old radiator and the fact this radiator, brand new busted in 3 months.
I would do it myself, my only problem is i am not comfortable with doing it as it also has oil and trans coolers built into the radiator, don't want to stuff something up, eg. creating air in the trans or oil coolers also.
Looking at it, there looks to be 1 main part of the radiator (for coolant i assume), then another smaller one in front of that and then a little spiral-like thin cooling finns in front of that again..
I'll try and take a picture of it, might try pulling the fans off again and try and get any markings off it to confirm.
Plus, the car has the green coolant in it, instead of the red holden coolant, which i want to flush out and get the proper stuff... i am not familar with flushing it entirely from the system, despite a lot of it has leaked out all over my front lawn from the busted radiator.
Last edited by morphix; 07-01-2012 at 06:12 PM.
hmm im not sure then, mine was just the radiator plain and simple. definately shouldn't have the green coolant...
Yeh, i can confirm, after going out and taking a better look after taking the fans out and and also pulling off the front bumper entirely (to get more visibility), the little spiral finned cooler at the very front is the oil cooler.
Took a look in the engine bay down near the radiator and traced the oil cooler pipes, that then run into hoses that then run under the radiator to the front to the oil cooler. Here are 2 pics, here and here
Then on the radiator core itself, above the bottom radiator hose, there are 2 pipes running into the radiator, which would be the going to/from the transmission. Pic
Here is a couple of pictures of the 'condensor' (if that is what it is?) which i never saw before on the prior radiator. Here, Here & Here
This is a picture of the radiator from the front of the car, as you can see, the main radiator core at the back, and the smaller one at the front.
I managed to get 2 pics of a label from the main radiator core and also from the top of the smaller one. Here and Here.
These labels look quite old, despite this apparently being replaced with an aftermarket unit 3 months ago.
Now, assuming this was actually replaced 3 months ago, the guy did not even replace the hoses such as here and here.
But, you can see on this pic where i changed the suspected leaking hose, which i also replaced the annoying clips for screw type clamps.
Blown Alloytec
Ok so here it is. There is a few coolers at the front of the sv6, working from engine side to bumper side is as follows. Thermo fans, radiator, ac condenser, which is clipped onto the front of the radiator, some other ac condenser thing that is cylindrical mounted into the ac condenser radiator, then the power steering cooler, which is a u shaped pipe that runs across the front of the car with little fins on it. To remove the radiator, undo both top and bottom hoses, unclio the thermo fans, unclio the ac condenser radiator thing from the radiator, unclip the radiator from car at the top of the radiator, then it all slides out.
Blown Alloytec
The smaller radiator you refer to is the ac condenser, it is clipped onto the larger radiator, which is the actual radiator.
Ah ok! That makes sense, is there anywhere which lists these standard coolers for the SV6?
I went looking through the so called workshop manuals from Autobarn and Supercheap (walked around the store for a while reading) which specifically have pages in relation to the SV6, but they don't show or mention these additional coolers.
Ok, well regardless, having a little google around it seems the stock radiators that Holden use are Calsonic, the same branding that is on the AC condensor... and the part number on the radiator sticker (as per my photos) is for the stock standard radiators.
I'm hoping the guy did not screw me around and actually did replace it.
I've noticed there is a lot of rust on the power steering cooler, where can i get a new one from?
Last edited by morphix; 08-01-2012 at 12:59 AM.
Blown Alloytec
No need to replace it, it would not be worth it.
And what is wrong with good quality Green coolant???
Donating Member
That's what I was thinking.
Blown Alloytec
As long as the coolant is safe to use with an alloy block then there is nothing wrong with it, that's why Holden coolant has additives which make it safe for alloy, as the wrong type of coolant can cause electrolysis and burn a hole in the block or head
The only proviso for the coolant used is that it must conform to GM Specification 6277M. The actual brand, colour, etc of the coolant is basically irrelevant, so long as it conforms to this GM Specification.
When selecting coolant, ensure that it states on the label that it conforms to/meets GM Specification 6277M.
If you change from red to green coolant you need to make sure you get all of th ered coolant out. If I was doing it I think I'd use nulon red coolant. I've got a VY and use their green coolant which is superiuor to the Holden stuff so I am guessing their red coolant would also be better?
As the mechanic was the one who put it in to begin with (when the radiator was changed) and i've topped it up after changing the hose that i thought was leaking with Nulon coolant i got from Autobarn (that states compliance with Holden specifications) i do not know for certain WHAT coolant is in the car.
My only worry is the coolant eating away inside if its not fully compliant and doing damaged internally.
Blown Alloytec
Should never mix coolants, even red coolant of one type with another red. What this does cause is the 2 coolants creating electrolosis which is essentially the 2 types of coolants mixing together to cause a voltage. You can actually measure the voltage produced with a multimeter
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