For real? GM needs a kick in the *****

[timswi]

I have never need to replace a rad in anything. Trucks, tractors, cars, ect. As far as I know my father has only had to replace one and that was just 2 years ago in his Corvette for the same issue the OP had. We caught the problem and have had no problems with the auto tranny in it. We saw oil floating in the overflow and everyone told us a common issue was the intake manifold gaskets. We had them changed and it was still putting a sheen of oil on the coolant. Thats when a competent mechanic figured out out it was the tranny cooler leaking into the rad. New rad, tranny flush and fill and she has been fine.

Only gets driven about 300 or so miles a year so who knows but so far so good and when I drive it I drive it like I stole it.

Chris

A new gen 'vette is on my want list...The wife likes the old ones. But in this case, if I ever buy one (a big if) I'm writing the check.

 

[Diamondpilot]

A new gen 'vette is on my want list...The wife likes the old ones. But in this case, if I ever buy one (a big if) I'm writing the check.

We have a 81, 99, and a 07 in the family. I really like the 99 for some reason. This is the one I was talking about. My dad bought it 2 months after his buddies wife bought it new. She just did not care for the convertible. Crazy woman.:confused2:

Chris

 

[timswi]

We have a 81, 99, and a 07 in the family. I really like the 99 for some reason. This is the one I was talking about. My dad bought it 2 months after his buddies wife bought it new. She just did not care for the convertible. Crazy woman.:confused2:

Chris

Some day for me.....Don't have a specifc year in mind...But who knows.

 

[clemsonfor]

I have never need to replace a rad in anything. Trucks, tractors, cars, ect. As far as I know my father has only had to replace one and that was just 2 years ago in his Corvette for the same issue the OP had. We caught the problem and have had no problems with the auto tranny in it. We saw oil floating in the overflow and everyone told us a common issue was the intake manifold gaskets. We had them changed and it was still putting a sheen of oil on the coolant. Thats when a competent mechanic figured out out it was the tranny cooler leaking into the rad. New rad, tranny flush and fill and she has been fine.

Only gets driven about 300 or so miles a year so who knows but so far so good and when I drive it I drive it like I stole it.

Chris

Nothing against you or not talking you down but you must not keep anything long enough to need one, or drive anything ragged out enough to need it!

Im only 29 and have had 7 vehicles my own and wifes. I have replaced 2 radiators and had one Rodded out. The first one was my 1985 ford tempo. I was in college i think like 2001, say about 16 years old. It was so clogged that it wouldnt cool and was leaking. My offroad and farm S15 wold overheat so i had it rodded out and was is not fine, its not running but not from radiator. Oh it is a 1986 and this was about 180K miles and that was 7 years or so ago or about 18 years on truck? And when i got my 1990 Ranger in 2002 i think i replaced the radiator that winter at about 160K miles on it and it was 12 years old at the time. It had a problem with the tank and would leak at the tank seal when cold but not warm. I just got a new one and not had the tanks reattached. And when i got my yanmar it had a crack in it, that was more of a problem of a Jap farmer using ditch water and letting it freeze i think, but anyhow dealer gave me a new one. So i have pulled out 4 bad radiators in my time. Oh and one more, this one is all my fault. I was driving the saturn in the woods and hit a limb and speared it into the grill/radiator. Luckily it did not pierce the condensor, it bent it but also messed the tank seal up and leaked. So i had to replace it.

But like i said i drive older cars, with many miles on them.

 

[Ford tractor]

That's true, but I got 200K out a couple of my recent GM V8 4x4's that were still on the original rads...Luck of the draw, I guess.

Radiators will last indefinitely IF you change the fluid out and replace with quality new antifreeze regularly. Most people fail to do that and the anti-corrosion protection fails with time and corrosion occurs. As somebody said, Rust never sleeps.

 

[Diamondpilot]

All I can say is I have never changed one. Never changed a starter or alternator in anything of mine but I maintain things to the 10th deg. I never let coolant go more than 50,000 miles, batteries every 3 years no matter what, ect. Dont want to be stranded. I work on enough others stuff that is not maintained to tell me how to be money, time, and frustration ahead.

Chris

 

[me0418840987]

Don't feel too bad, It happens to a lot of vehicles. We bought an 03 Dodge Neon with 27,000 miles on it back in 05. by 88,000, It had lost the trans due to an internal radiator /cooler failure. $2,800 later, dealer rebuild, it was all better. After I got it home, the first thing that I did was remove the trans lines from the rad, and install a truck trans cooler in front of the radiator, completely bypassing the radiator cooler. It now has 247,000 miles on it, and runs great. My advice, bypass the internal cooler. Have done it on every vehicle with an auto trans since, and no problems- I own nothing with less than 150,000 miles except my 31 Ford AA, that has 73,000.

 

[clemsonfor]

All I can say is I have never changed one. Never changed a starter or alternator in anything of mine but I maintain things to the 10th deg. I never let coolant go more than 50,000 miles, batteries every 3 years no matter what, ect. Dont want to be stranded. I work on enough others stuff that is not maintained to tell me how to be money, time, and frustration ahead.

Chris

How do you maintain a starter or alternator? Do you actually take yours apart and spray them out with electrical cleaner? This seems like way to much work, and just easier to replace it when it wears out and way better time wise?

I have replaced the alternator twice in my ranger, once in my tempo maybe once in the s10, dont remember? Also put a starter in the tempo.

 

[clemsonfor]

Don't feel too bad, It happens to a lot of vehicles. We bought an 03 Dodge Neon with 27,000 miles on it back in 05. by 88,000, It had lost the trans due to an internal radiator /cooler failure. $2,800 later, dealer rebuild, it was all better. After I got it home, the first thing that I did was remove the trans lines from the rad, and install a truck trans cooler in front of the radiator, completely bypassing the radiator cooler. It now has 247,000 miles on it, and runs great. My advice, bypass the internal cooler. Have done it on every vehicle with an auto trans since, and no problems- I own nothing with less than 150,000 miles except my 31 Ford AA, that has 73,000.

Dont you need one big A cooler to cool solely with an external cooler? I tow with over half my vehicles.

 

[Diamondpilot]

How do you maintain a starter or alternator? Do you actually take yours apart and spray them out with electrical cleaner? This seems like way to much work, and just easier to replace it when it wears out and way better time wise?

I have replaced the alternator twice in my ranger, once in my tempo maybe once in the s10, dont remember? Also put a starter in the tempo.

I do nothing to them. Now that I think about it I have replaced one on my tractor back in about 2004. The oem one worked but was weak and they came out with a gear reduction unit so I bought it.

I know I am lucky but I do also think that maintaining things helps a lot. I change batteries every 3 years for example just for piece of mind. I am sure this also helps slightly in alternator and starter life. (do not have to work as hard). I have been doing this for a long time and have just learned its pay me now or pay me later and I will be money ahead paying now and maintaining things.

Chris