Plastic Radiator nut

[oberdahill]

The plastic nut on top of the radiator separated and I want to replace with the copper. What size do I get? I leave on Tuesday morning for the right coast and will be there for a couple of days. Is it a Home depot thing? I don't have time to go to the German LR dealership. How do I get the remaining plastic out without dropping too much into the radiator?

[Aaron98Disco]

Originally Posted by oberdahill

The plastic nut on top of the radiator separated and I want to replace with the copper. What size do I get? I leave on Tuesday morning for the right coast and will be there for a couple of days. Is it a Home depot thing? I don't have time to go to the German LR dealership. How do I get the remaining plastic out without dropping too much into the radiator?

You probably won't have the time to order one but I just saw these for sale online.. either DAP or AB. I think.. Also they might have been brass.. not copper.

[SCSL]

If I understand your question correctly, I had a similar problem w/ my stock plastic diff drain plug bolt. I used a utility knife to get a grip on the broken plastic & unscrewed it.

Don't know if you have a DI or DII but the diff drain plug bolt on a DII is the same size as the radiator bolt on a DI. (Not sure about the drain plug bolt on the DI,,,may also be the same?).

[Rovin4life]

if you get it out try a german hardware store, its possible the thread pitch is the same and then get a brass fitting with a brass cap.

[Bene]

x2 on using some sort of blade. use a knife, a large flat tip screwdriver, or something like that.

[oberdahill]

Thanks for the replies. I'll hit the dealer in the morning and get a replacement, then order a brass one and have it sent out. I need to get it driveable by tomorrow.

[oberdahill]

Removed most of the threaded portion of the radiator nut. While tapping it out, a large piece (about the size of the top of a soda bottle cap) fell into the radiator.

Is it safe enough to drive it to the shop to have the radiator drained or do you think I should drain it where it sits to try and get the piece out? I don't know if it fell down to the bottom where the hose is or it's stuck where it won't restrict flow. I hesitate to drive it now because the piece might get lodged somewhere in the motor.

Oberdahill
96 D1 SE7
94 Volvo 850
Stuttgart, Germany

[edthediscoman]

Ah sugar....I would drop the main hose off the bottom of the water pump, pull it swiftly off after loosening the clamp, and drain it all to a bucket, then see if you got the piece. If not, run water from the top hose through the radiator till you do.
I would not drive it as the motor passageways are small, and you have to go through the water pump too...and thats not cheap.
Ed

[oberdahill]

Ed,

That's what the plan is for this morning. Hopefully the piece will drop out easily. It needed a coolant change anyhow.

[edthediscoman]

Good luck!!!...cause it won't melt....its designed for high temp.
Ed

[oberdahill]

Ed,

Your suggestion worked great. The piece came out with the remaining coolant. Now to find some distilled water and give it a fill.

[Howard]

For future reference.......put a paper towel into the hole where the nut was to catch the remaining plastic pieces. Then use a shop vac to pull it out. Also, just had to replace mine......found a threaded copper plug at auto parts store. It is a common part.

Howard

95 D1

[Disco Mike]

If any of you want to buy one of the brass plugs go to Expedition Exchange, that is where I bought mine for my diffs.
Mike