The range comprises of approximately 150 items, being the OE equivalent items fitted as standard equipment to the vehicles during manufacture. The range covers most popular European vehicles fitted with Hella lights as standard equipment. Lights made by other OE manufacturers are not yet covered although it is envisaged that this will be possible within the near future. The vehicle makes presently covered are as follows :

• Audi
• BMW
• Ford
• Mercedes Benz
• Opel
• Peugeot
• Renault
• VW

The range covers Halogen technology derivatives as well as Xenon technology derivatives depending on vehicle application. In addition the range also covers advanced lighting features such as light distance control which is used in newer vehicles and particularly in high end vehicles. Universal lights are not presently covered. Further information can be obtained via the Silverton Radiators outlets directly.

In the past Silverton Radiators was known for radiator repairs and for supplying replacement radiators to the aftermarket. In the mean time the company has evolved to the point where in addition to its other services it is able to supply a vastly wider range of product lines encompassing the entire cooling system, parts of the charge air cooling system as well as the complete air conditioning system. The product range covers applications from the earliest to the latest models available on Southern Africa’s roads.

In the latest development the company is branching out from the thermal systems market into the automotive lights field also and this represents part of the company’s continual evolution.

On the website level a wide range of new content is made available to the public including tools to help a user to easily locate products and services offered by the company as well as technical articles relating to thermal systems. An email interface is provided on the site allowing customers to contact Head Office directly. In addition the company now also has a Facebook page enabling customers to stay updated with changes happening at Silverton radiators. For further details please browse through the content on our site.

Sadly the above rings true for the way that not only a good number of motorists may reason but also a good number of service providers/parts retailers as well. And in tough economic times it is understandable since everybody needs to make the Rands and cents go a lot further than before. But as always the question remains whether the cheapest solution is really the cheapest in the long run.

In order to help you to make the right decision, consider the below :

1. The radiator core design is of paramount importance in the parts ability to do its job correctly. While the core of one radiator may look no different from another on the face of it, in reality the actual differences in the core design may cause an otherwise identical radiator to perform at a level of more than 35% below that of the correct part.
2. If the radiator is a lot cheaper then there is often a good reason for that. Aside from legitimate reasons such as sourcing from factories having lower labor costs etc, one of the more popular ways of doing so is by reducing the amount of materials used for making the part and/or lowering the specifications of the materials used for this. The result is a part that will have a lower lifespan than the part made at the higher specification level.
3. Modern radiators are normally made of aluminium. Whilst this has many advantages it is also sensitive to the way it is used and when fitted into a poorly maintained cooling system it can fail in a short space of time. Ask yourself why did the original part fail? If the cause of that failure is not rectified then a replacement part will fail for exactly the same reason. The reason for such a failure will not always be apparent and it is therefore important to ensure that fitment is done by a qualified service provider who knows what to look for. The replacement part is ultimately also only as good as its installation.
5. A failure in the cooling system can very well result in an overheated engine which will cost you a fortune to repair. When you balance the potential cost of an engine repair, does the cheaper radiator still have the same appeal? Consider also that it is not necessary for the cooling system to actually break down before the engine can overheat, it is only necessary for the system to be running below the required level and you could pick up serious damage.

At Silverton Radiators we are in most instances able to supply the same parts you will get over the counter from the Motor dealers themselves. This is because we are ourselves part of a group of major OE manufacturers and we therefore have direct access to their parts. Furthermore we are able to source from most other OE manufacturers in the industry. You therefore get the best there is at a fair price.

In addition to the original parts we sell, we are able to provide you with the choice of a quality, value alternative on most popular applications. Rest assured that we have thoroughly qualified these parts to ensure that they are able to perform at the required level.
In the unfortunate event that you do need a radiator replacement, don’t allow any old cheap quality grey product to be fitted to your vehicle. Always insist on Behr Hella Service – quality you can depend on!

While all of this is really good news for the motorist there are some implications when there is a mechanical failure in the compressor side of the turbocharger. In the event of mechanical damage to the turbocharger, the intercooler should be replaced as well. It cools down the 150-degree-celsius hot air compressed by the turbocharger before it reaches the combustion chamber of the engine. The cooling takes place via the ambient air (air flow) or the engine coolant. If mechanical damage to the turbocharger now occurs, it is not uncommon for the intercooler to be affected as well, due to the ingress of metal particles coming out of the compressor side of the turbocharger. If these later become dislodged from the intercooler and are sucked in by the engine, engine damage with serious consequences may result. Flushing or cleaning of the intercooler, is in our opinion advisable only if, for example, oil has collected there as a result of a compressor leak. In the event of mechanical damage to the turbocharger and subsequent cleaning, there is however the risk that not all particles can be removed from the intercooler. Also, for example, intercoolers with turbulence inserts cannot be flushed or cleaned due to design reasons. In order to avoid further damage, the charger intercooler should therefore be replaced.

Well, for one thing there are good aftermarket parts and there are bad aftermarket parts. But how do you really know the difference.

Even if you are qualified in the field of thermodynamics and heat transfer you would still be well advised to stick with a supplier who is experienced in the field and who has a track record of supplying only quality parts.

Nevertheless there are a few things which should be kept in mind when buying an aftermarket intercooler and the question that really needs to be answered is whether the apparently cheapest solution is really the cheapest in the long run.

In order to help you to make the right decision, consider the below :

1. The intercooler core design is of paramount importance in the parts ability to do its job correctly. While the core of one intercooler may look no different from another on the face of it, in reality the actual differences in the core design may cause an otherwise identical intercooler to perform at a level of more than 35% below that of the correct part. This will cause the charge air entering the engine to be at a higher temperature meaning that it will also be less dense. This will lead to power and efficiency losses in the engine with the net result being that it will use more fuel. You will thus end up paying for the cheaper intercooler each time you stop at the pumps to refuel.
2. If the intercooler is a lot cheaper then there is often a good reason for that. Aside from legitimate reasons such as producing parts in countries providing cheaper labor the next most popular way of making a cheaper component is by reducing the amount of materials used for making the part and/or lowering the specifications of the materials used for this. The result is a part that will have a lower lifespan than the part made at the higher specification level in addition to the performance penalty incurred. A good quality aftermarket intercooler should not rely on such means of achieving a lower price.
3. If you do need to save on cost then it may possible (depending on the intercooler construction), to recore an intercooler. This is mostly done on heavy trucks and is not as common on lighter applications.

At Silverton Radiators we are in most instances able to supply the same parts you will get over the counter from the Motor dealers themselves i.e the OE quality items. This is because we are ourselves part of a group of major OE manufacturers and we therefore have direct access to their parts. Furthermore we are able to source from most other OE manufacturers in the industry.  You therefore get the best there is at a fair price.

In addition to the original parts we sell, we are in certain instances able to provide you with the choice of a quality, value for money alternative on some of the popular applications. Rest assured that we have thoroughly qualified these parts to ensure that they are able to perform at the required level.

In the unfortunate event that you do need an intercooler replacement, don’t allow any old cheap quality grey or no-name product to be fitted to your vehicle. For quality you can depend on,  always insist on Behr Hella Service quality!

The question that motorists might consider at one point is whether it is really necessary to maintain the engine coolant mixture in the engines cooling system instead of just topping up or refilling with tap water as needed.

In order to answer this question it is necessary to consider what an engine coolant actually does. As already stated the engine coolant has multiple functions. This includes but is not limited to the following :

• Protecting against corrosion – By forming a protective layer on the surfaces of the engines cooling system, thereby providing protection against aggressive elements.
• Increasing the boiling point of the coolant mixture – This maintains the cooling systems efficiency beyond 100 degrees Celsius.
• Preventing the coolant mixture from freezing – This ensures that the coolant mixture will maintain its working capacity even at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius and also protects the heat exchangers from mechanical damage due to the expansion of frozen coolant mixture inside the heat exchanger tubes.
• Balancing the pH of the coolant mixture – This ensures that the coolant mixture will tend towards alkalinity (tap water can be slightly acidic) rather than acidity which accordingly prevents a corrosive condition from arising.
• Preventing deposits on the heat exchanger surfaces – this maintains the heat transfer capability of the vehicles radiator as well as the interior heater.
• Preventing foaming of the coolant mixture – This is necessary because foam formation will severely inhibit heat transfer capabilities of the heat exchangers in the cooling system.

While doing all of this the coolant must remain compatible with all the different materials it will come into contact with, in the vehicles cooling system. This includes metals, plastics as well as rubber seals and hoses.

While this may sound simple enough in practice it does not work out that way. During in-house testing of certain engine coolants we found coolants that turned out to be so corrosive that it was possible with the naked eye to observe pitting of the surface of a sample of aluminium submerged in the coolant within a matter of a few days. At the same time we also found coolants that turned out to be nothing more than colored water or on the other hand contained less MEG (monoethylene glycol) than is necessary for a working coolant.

Considering this a word of caution is necessary to any motorist or workshop undertaking to refill a vehicles cooling system. In order to be able to receive or maintain a warranty on heat exchanger parts supplied by a Silverton radiators outlet it is necessary to use only coolant approved by the vehicle manufacturers or otherwise coolant supplied by a Silverton radiators outlet via Behr Hella Service – this will be branded with the Silverton radiators branding. If it is not branded with our branding then it is not approved by us.

Another important aspect of an engine coolant mixture is the water with which the coolant is mixed. Firstly the coolant must be mixed in the correct proportions. The correct proportions can be found in the vehicle owners handbook but will generally range from 30% to 50% coolant mixed with clean water. Below 30% coolant in water there will not be adequate freeze protection so this is the absolute minimum concentration required during winter. While an increased coolant concentration provides an increase in freeze protection this is only true up to a certain limit (max 60%) after which the freeze protection will actually be compromised. At the same time excessive coolant concentration will also reduce the coolant mixtures ability to transfer heat. The bottom line here is that the coolant concentration should never exceed 60% coolant in water.

The quality of the water is also an important aspect – it must be clean i.e no abrasive or abnormal corrosive impurities may be present. Remember also that in certain areas town water may be heavily loaded with chlorine which is highly aggressive towards aluminium so in this case it is recommended to use demineralised water. When a radiator or heater is being replaced it is required that the entire system will be flushed so as to remove any impurities which might presently be existing in the system. Only in this way will the engine coolant mixture be able to properly function.

Lastly it must be mentioned that an engine coolant has an effective lifespan that would be affected by the quality of water with which it is mixed, the prior condition of the cooling system into which it is filled as well as the coolant concentration. In a properly maintained system the coolant additives (except when using long life coolants) will generally become depleted within about three years and it is therefore recommended that the engine coolant be replaced every three years.

To answer the question as to whether it is really necessary to maintain a vehicles coolant mixture the answer is a very definite ‘Yes’. You might be able to save some money in the short run by using plain water or by using a cheap no name brand coolant but you will eventually end up having to replace much more expensive components in the vehicles cooling system if you do so. In the end the choice is yours, but don’t say you have not been warned.

The process that takes place between the radiator or heater during electrolysis can be visualized by picturing what happens in the battery of your vehicle. Inside the battery there are metal plates of differing material, each one being connected to its respective battery pole i.e the positive or negative pole. Inside the battery casing there is an electrolyte which takes part in the chemical reactions taking place inside the battery. When there is a current flow across the poles of the battery there are certain chemical reactions inside the battery which drive this. At the negative pole there will be an oxidation reaction taking place while at the positive pole there will be a reduction reaction taking place. What happens during an oxidation reaction is that metal is taken from the surface of the plate and converted to an oxide. This process depletes the material at the negative pole of the vehicles battery. In the case of a vehicle battery however this process can be reversed when the battery is recharged. The same does not happen during electrolysis of the vehicles cooling system components.

In the case of the cooling system there are differing metals and alloys used in the radiator, heater and even the water pump as opposed to the materials used in the engine block etc. These materials are in electrical contact with each other via the engine coolant which will act as a conductor and an electrolyte. The different materials at the points mentioned will act as a positive and negative pole of a battery under the right conditions. As soon as there are stray currents generated in the vehicles electrical system e.g. when there is a bad earth in an electrical circuit, these currents will cause a reaction in the cooling system in the same way as what happens in the vehicles battery. An oxidation reaction is set off which will oxidize the aluminium components in the cooling system and because the radiator and heater have the thinnest material thicknesses these will usually be the first to fail when the oxidation process has removed enough material from the metals surface.

This type of failure can happen in both petrol as well as diesel vehicles. When a cooling system component fails it is important to find out the reason for this. If this is not done simply replacing the radiator will not solve the problem and a new radiator could fail in the space of only a few days or in really severe cases in a matter of hours. Of course such a radiator or heater cannot be covered by a warranty because without removing the cause of failure the warranty conditions will not be satisfied. For this reason it is vitally important to make sure that a radiator or heater installation is done by a professional who knows what they are doing. In this way you will have peace of mind that your vehicle will be back in tip top condition for trouble free motoring.