Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Plus Four coolant leak

Chatting to a Plus Four owner yesterday who has just had yet another radiator replaced under warranty it seems the latest iteration of a "fix" following swirl pot addition, includes an ECU firmware update. He was told this was to provide quicker/better response to coolant temperature changes so guessing this concerns ECU controlled thermostat.

When a failed radiator is replaced on a Plus Four/Six, is it a plastic rad or an aluminium one that is used? I ask because on my Plus 4 (Duratec) I had fitted an aluminium rad to replace the original plastic item as preventive maintenance. The plastic rad was reportedly not, in many cases, reliable and leaked.
Bob.

The ECU flash definately makes a difference during the warm up cycle. Our Plus Six pre ECU flash and latest radiator used to take ages to see the temp climb from cold, after the ECU flash and radiator change the engine temp starts to show as warming within a minute..Its a big difference. Once up to operating temp the gauge sits at normal as previously..

The Plus Six radiators are all aluminium based on what can be seen...

My radiator was also made of aluminum from the beginning. Never had any problems with it so is still the original after delivery

Are the rads aluminium core with aluminium tanks or aluminium core and plastic tanks?
There’s a big difference as plastic tanks sealant and crimping to the core tube plates. Also there can be questions over strength of the pipes moulded in.
All aluminium should have tanks welded to the core tube plates and pipes similarly welded to the tank.
Significant differences to structural integrity.
I can’t see the rad on my Plus Four clearly enough to see. Only done 800 miles so far with no leaks.

From what can be seen the Plus Six rads are all alloy, they appeared to be all alloy on all the three radiators so far fitted. I believe the latest version also has a revised hanging/location system.

It is so heavy, i am pretty sure it is not in plastic.

The problem with the CX radiators was mainly due to the management of the cooling valve. There was a huge thermal shock and a huge pressure shock due to the sudden arrival of steam. Now with the ECU update it shouldn't have any issues.

The error will have cost MMC dearly and the confidence of buyers.



I confirm that the radiator is completely aluminum.

I hope you are right Gaston. However if the ECU update proves to be a once and for all fix this leaves MMC in an awkward situation. Do they have a recall for all owners of CX cars that haven't had the upgrade (assuming Plus Six benefits from same) or do they accept statistically there will be a steady flow of CX cars being returned to dealers over the next few years with leaking radiators on cars that haven't had the ECU firmware update yet? Also where will such owners stand with expired warranties?