Need a new radiator - where from?

[turbomart]

Ally has lower heat transmission quality & is usually unrepairable if leaking, also is generally paired with plastic tanks which warp causing leaks or go brittle & crack.

[carvesdodo]

Originally Posted by drover

It amazes me how everyone thinks an aluminium radiator is inferior, half the engine is made of the same stuff. My truck has just rolled over 670,000Km and still has its original alloy one doing the job.

Probably depends on what a persons definition of inferior means.

Those in the industry, reckon the alloy/plastic tank ones last longer than a traditional radiator ..... and they might too - depending on how hot a vehicles engine bay is ... but I've been tossing them away every 5yrs or so - same as I have always done, even with the old style.

As far as cooling goes ... they arent much less of a performer than a same capacity, copper/brass one.

Also cheaper .... welllllll ... to make anyway .... maybe not to buy ...

Personally, I class them as inferior - for much the same reasons as turbomart.;

- A lot is riding on the quality of the tank seals in a high pressure, cooling system ...
- Harder to repair in the boonies ... normally means a motel wait for a courier delivery - instead of a just pestering some bloke handy with an oxy set and a stick of solder.
- And I've seen stress cracks in aluminium products, from longterm corrugated road use ... boats on racks with split hulls, roofrack fittings, some bullbar welds/joins etc, .... so I'm prejudiced I guess ....

There is also big need to ensure that an aluminium radiator is well mounted & insulated.

Its not that they are no good ... Just different ... and dont suit all ...

[drover]

I was of the same opinion until the head spanner man at our workshop showed me the plastic header tanks and alloy rads on the Volvos and Kennys, then the plastic sumps and rocker covers, he also said they get twice the distance of the copper jobs and that the plastic actually was stronger. They have less hassles with them.
Certainly came as a surprise to me. Though I have been at an accident where a Ford got hit by 5 cars and was bent up something horrible the plastic fuel tank and radiator were still intact, bent but not leaking.
Seen the same cracks in alloy stuff but then seen steel stuff fall apart just the same up in the Territory. But at least if the copper srung a leak I could solder it up in the bush not possible with the alloy.

[turbomart]

Theres also a big difference in the quality of plastic/aluminium truck radiators compared to car ones.