Yes the feed pipe can get hot even if the flow through the radiator is pretty poor.
It does sound like the microbore is fairly well sludged up.
Is it a long run from the manifold and how would you feel about replacing it all with 15mm? That's probably what I would do.
It does sound like the microbore is fairly well sludged up.
Is it a long run from the manifold and how would you feel about replacing it all with 15mm? That's probably what I would do.