Cooling system overhaul -- when?

[Smegger]

Hey folks,

I've put the AUII in for a service this morning (am going on a ~4000km trip at the end of the week, and want everything nice) and was recommended to have a full cooling system overhaul -- all cooling system hoses replaced, flush, and a possible radiator replacement.

Just wondering.. is this all necessary at ~130,000kms? The car has had a pretty good life and is serviced regularly.. I expected to get longer out of the hoses that that! The ones I've felt feel fine; soft and flexible, not hard anywhere and no signs of leak/crack/ballooning.

The hoses and flush were quoted at ~$800 -- making the service (with front brake pads and a rotor-machine) come in at ~$1300. This is at a local mechanic, not Ford. Any advice?

[TheSly1]

Shafted.. no way it needs a radiator replacing @ 130,000kms, that is unless its busted and clearly its not.

A flush and new hoses.. sure why not... but hell that cant be worth that much...

and $500 for front brake discs (machined not even new) and pads.. RIPPED

I can get 2 Front RDA Discs and a set of Bendix Pads for $140.. and how much to put them on.. $100 at most man.. its so damn simple.

You didnt list it but does this include a oil n filter change? plugs aswell maybe?


My advie CHANGE MECHANICS they are ripping you off

[5.0 ED]

Yeah sounds a bit rich, at 130,000km's, especially since the rotors are only getting serviced, also there really should be nothing wrong with your radiator or hoses at that point, a good coolant flush would be due, but personally i wouldn't be changing the hoses unless they are needing it, at which it sounds like there not.

[Ringo]

Cooling system is under the most pressure while in stop start traffic in summer...not belting along highways in mild weather (unless your towing)

I smell an "upsell" and big tasty one at that.

If the cooling system isn't giving you any issues now then no need to spend dollars on it.

My armchair point of view anyway...

[FGII-XR6]

I would be asking him to justify all charges and if excessive go to the MTA or eqivalent in your state this guy is ripping you off big time hoses and a flush should be a couple of hundred not 800 you can get a new radiator for under 200 ( at 130K the often need a new radiator especially if red coolant was used ) machine rotors $30 each tops ( mine cost 22) and $ 55 for a set of pads ( bendix ) so this guy is a theif

[Dark Horse]

All AUIII's from factory were fitted with a different thermostat to previous AU series (which subsequently were upgraded to this standard through a recall) to prevent the radiator from cracking.

130,000 km's needing to replace the cooling system is not really necessary at all. I'd do a coolant flush if it hasn't been done for a while (two years or more).

Prices for getting your discs machined through Ford are also cheaper than quoted. Christ!

[mik]

my radiator showed a very small pin hole at about 110,000 k`s and it is well serviced and at more frequent intervals than ford recomend, actually it had not lost any coolant but was seeping, i also was servicing the car for a 4000+ k trip towing a van up north, while fitting a tranny cooler to it i noticed what looked like a bit of green bird poop on the core (the begining of the pin hole) which i would never have seen unless fitting the cooler, a radiator that has done 6 or 7 years service is not bad imo, if it was me i would replace the radiator, its cheap insurance if it lasts another 5 or 6 years trouble free, i might also add my water pump seal started to go at about 110,000k`s at which point i did the works all hoses and pump, upon inspection of all hoses i think they may well have lasted longer (but i would have changed them anyway, there are about 8 hoses in total and some are difficult to get at) they were`nt too bad, every one has a different perspective mine is i would rather do preventitive maintenance, its much easier than trying to do repairs on the roadside, $1300 sounds ok too me, there is a fair bit of labour there if he does it properly, all cooling system hoses =couple of hundred$ (not just top an bottom radiator hoses) radiator 200-250$ coolant40$? system presure test, hose clamps were needed, disc pads and machined rotors xxx$ + labour, good luck.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Smegger

all cooling system hoses replaced, flush, and a possible radiator replacement.

I've just finished replacing rad, hoses, thermostat (and serpentine belt) at 140,000kms.

It was intended as preventative maintenance but when I got the radiator out it was clear that it had developed a leak (I'd only recently flushed the system and I thought that the "leak" was caused by a faulty/overtightened/whatever drain plug).

Local Natrad guy told me that AU thermostats can "hammer" and cause rad leaks.

Be that as it may, mine was certainly leaking.

So, radiator @ $195, hoses/thermostat @ $70?, green stuff @ $30, belt @$50 and the job is done.

[Smegger]

Thanks guys, definitely feel better about refusing the work to the cooling system. I'll source the hoses myself and fit them sometime after we return. I'm all for preventative maintenance, but it did seem like he was trying to 'cash in' on my trip.

I'll be towing a 6'x10' trailer with our camping gear, but I still don't see this putting sufficient strain on the cooling to foul an otherwise healthy system. It never moves past the 'o' in normal, regardless of weather. Electric fans spool up and down without issue, and the coolant is clean (a little cloudy, but considering I've not changed it for at least 10,000kms I'm happy with it).

Dragging the topic slightly off, at what kind of towing loads/road conditions is it necessary to fit additional cooling for the transmission/engine? This trailer is fairly sturdy, and will be full of our tents/chairs/etc.. I'd never considered that the falcon would potentially struggle with the load over a distance, but all this thinking about my cooling system has be wondering

[Dark Horse]

A transmission cooler would be a good investment, not so much for the cooling system and the engine, rather to protect or rather extend the life of the auto.

[Mechan1k]

^^^^^^^
With Dark Horse on this one ... its more of an extension of lifespan for your auto more than anything. A cheap mod that will help considerably.

[JC]

Agree with the recommendation for a trannie cooler. At around $180 odd, plus maybe $100 to fit, it is a worthwhile investment for your transmission. Just make sure they bypass the radiator, or you might as well just not fit one at all.

[Mechan1k]

I have been reading and hearing from cooling specialists that it does need to run via the radiator ... it's not good to get the trans fluid too cool ... so it does need to run via the radiator keep around the optimal temperature.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

I have been reading and hearing from cooling specialists that it does need to run via the radiator ... it's not good to get the trans fluid too cool ... so it does need to run via the radiator keep around the optimal temperature.

The problem with that is that if the radiator copper piping lets go (and they do let go), then having the trannie cooler fitted is not going to help. With the bypassing the radiator, the intention is not actually to run it any cooler, it is more so that if (when) the copper pipes disintegrate and the trannie cooler bypasses the radiator, then you just saved your transmission. The transmission place I go to in Canberra only ever fit theirs by-passed, and they do a lot of AU & BA taxis.