'modern' radiators

jimg · Oct 12, 2007

It used to be that radiators came w/ metal tanks that could be removed/replaced allowing the core to be cleaned/repaired (or in extreme cases replaced). These days tanks are plastic and it appears the entire affair is meant to be disposable. Times have passed me by and Id like to figure out what the drill is. First, are the plastic tanks removable/replaceable like the old metal ones? If not is the idea to force the customer to buy an entirely new part or are the cores somehow fixable?

tractorsanmore · Oct 12, 2007

The plastic tanks on the radiators that I've seen are replaceable , not sure about all of them . A radiator shop can fix them , not sure it is cost effective in all cases . The plastic / alum . radiators have been around for a long time .maybe 30 yrs . My dad had a 1985 ford pickup with one , brother has the truck now , still with the original radiator . I personally like them better

woodchuckie · Oct 12, 2007

I discovered my first plastic radiator on a 1985 celica. It had a leak around the neck so I attempted a little solder repair. It didn't melt if just caught on fire.

Wayne County Hose · Oct 13, 2007

I'll take the aluminum /plastic any day over the old stuff. My buddy owns a body shop. I've seen aluminum radiators bent to 45 degrees and still not leak. They also don't rot out like the old stuff. So you hit the plastic tank too hard it leaks. Don't hit the plastic.

Mickey_Fx · Oct 13, 2007

As has been stated, newer radiators are repairable like the old ones, just different techniques. Rad shop have tool to help them straighten out the crimped finger joints and the tank lifts off the core.

Had to have the rad on my car cleaned out and it wasn't much of a job and all went back together without a hitch including reusing the sealing gasket used between the tanks and the rad. No leaks and that was about 3 yrs ago.

One thing noted and don't know if it applies to a lot of cars but the rad passages are a lot smaller than in the old days. Had a small head gasket leak and until I could get that repaired I added some stop-leak to the coolant. After a while it completely plugged the rad passages.

jimg · Oct 15, 2007

OK, thats pretty good news...one of the the reasons I ask is b/c a fellow I know of bought a grey market tractor of some stripe which has a leaking rad. This one has the plastic tanks and he wasnt sure it its repairable or not. Im sure getting a new rad could be difficult.

DieselPower · Oct 15, 2007

I know a lot of the radiator shops I deal with will not even work on plastic tank radiators. They will only replace them. Most of them tell me they have had to many of them come back leaking again under warrenty. Can't say I blame them.

chrisjbell · Oct 20, 2007

I'm not a fan of the plastic radiators. You can get them fixed. We use a really good radiator shop and they'll fix 'em but the owner will not warrant his work on the plastic radiators. Metal ones - no problem.

He does say that it is important to flush 'em, same as the metal ones.

DenisM · Oct 20, 2007

Aluminum is better able to transfer heat than brass and its lighter and cheaper too. That's why they are used today. Manufacturers don't care if you can fix them, they want you to buy a new car or truck or whatever every couple of years.

chrisjbell · Oct 20, 2007

DenisM said:
Aluminum is better able to transfer heat than brass and its lighter and cheaper too. That's why they are used today. Manufacturers don't care if you can fix them, they want you to buy a new car or truck or whatever every couple of years.

Yeah, that's true. I started to dislike the aluminium and plastic radiators a few years back when I had to replace one in a ten year old car and was told "that is about how long they last - the plastic deteriorates with the heat and time". I've got a radiator in my old truck that is older than I am that still works, even though it isn't very efficient.

RalphVa · Oct 22, 2007

I'm not sure you can even get the all metal ones any more. When the plastic bottom blew out on our 1983 240D in about 1996, they tried to get a copper tube one at least. Had to get an aluminum one. (The bottom blew without much warning. It cracked and spewed. Luckily, my wife was almost stopped at the time and right next to a side road that she could pull into.)

Think it would be a good idea to spray ArmorAll onto the plastic every so often, as plastic embrittlement/aging is what caused the bottom to crack. Easy to do on the top. Haven't thought of it or tried to do it on the bottoms of any of mine on vehicles or tractor though.

I wouldn't have much confidence in getting the plastic replaced. I'd also worry about it if they cleaned it like they used to by removing the top and bottom heads and then putting them back on. Doubt they can reseal them like in the factory. Kinda like getting the battery replaced in your watches: no longer water proof. Some seem to have luck getting it done though. The Benz is the only one I've had go so far. The other car & truck are only 10 and 11 years old, mere children.

Ralph