Radiator advice - 159 JTS TI

[asleepfromday]

Hi Guys,
I have just had my 15000 service on my alfa (owned about a year) and the mech has told me a have a radiator leak, yet I have never seen any fluid lost nor had to top it up? About 9 months ago I have a heater hose split and dumped alot of coolant in engine bay and on the road, no damage done and I had it and a few other hoses replaced. since then I have carefully checked the coolant level but not have had to top up at all. The mech was pointing to dried up old coolant as proof. He also said one of the hoses coupled to the top inlet pipe has bulged and will fail, yet in every pic I have seen of the 4 cylinder motor that part of the pipe has looked the same, kind of puffy.
Does it sound plausible that the mech (not an alfa shop) could be wrong or should I be getting it in for repairs do you think?

[Colin Edwards]

Hi,
Wash off the dried up old coolant.  Give it a week or so and see if the coolant reappears. 
Ask to have the cooling system pressure tested.  Better still to have one of the Alfa Specialists that support the club do the work.  They will also give you an honest opinion on the hose condition.  Replacing it just to be on the safe side shouldn't cost the earth.  Given you say the coolant level isn't dropping suggests things cant be too bad!

Colin

[Mick A]

It sounds to me like you have a good mechanic that is suggesting some preventative maintenance to help you avoid the inconvenience and potentially costly repairs in the event of a failure of the radiator or hose.

[kaleuclint]

I had a rad hose failure in my 159ti (TBi) within weeks of a dealer carrying out an end-of warranty check (failing to detect this).  I've also had two coolant header tanks crack.  This is a 44,000km car...

I'd be getting the check Colin suggests.