Isuzu Trooper Owners Club UK™

Raj · Newbie Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 9

Please can anyone help? I noticed my Isuzu Bighorn 3.1 leaking coolant from the radiator, when I went shopping. I took it straight to the garage. Who undid the radiator cap and put in 2 watering cans of cold water into a very hot engine. I left it with the garage, who got back to me and said that they had done a block test, which indicated that there may be a problem with the head gasket or a crack in the engine block. They would not know unless the engine was stripped down which would cost between £1400 to £2000. A friend of mine who is a mechanic told me that if the head gasket or worse had happened I would now about it.There would be a huge amount of smoke and water in the oil. I have checked this and there is no water in the oil or any smoke. The car runs as normal. I don't want to spend all that money only to find all that needs replacing is the radiator. When I noticed the leak towards the bottom of the radiator the temperature gauge did not show any overheating. The garage said that was because there was no water in the radiator.
The isuzu had been parked up for 6 months without being used and I had only just started using it again. Could this have caused the radiator to corrode. I have got the Isuzu back from the garage without being fixed as I cannot afford so much at this time of year. Any advice welcome. I love this vehicle and want to get it back on the road.
Thanks

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Philp · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 18:45 Post subject:

Find another garage or take the rad out and get it pressure tested at a radiator specialist. If the rad is leaking then a new one is about £120 from Milners IIRC. If you have cooked it then it is possible that the head has warped, the head gasket has gone or the block cracked BUT those problems would be more obvious. Tipping cold water into a red hot engine block isn't a good idea also.
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96 or is it a 98 Isuzu Bighorn Lotus

:::Matski::: · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 18:49 Post subject:

Your friend is not exactly right.

I have had two troopers which needed new head gaskets but ran fine, only using a small amount of water and not mixing water and oil and vice versa.

If they did a compression test or leak down test it seems a bit odd that they only think it may have a problem.

I would get the new rad as it needs it anyway and take it from there.
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creekmoorchris · *** Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 172 Location: Poole

I paid £120 for the radiator and £50 for local mechanic to fit .... did me just fine and no problems in the water department since Shocked

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Raj · Newbie Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 9

Thanks for all the replies. I shall get the radiator fixed and see what happens.