Aftermarket Radiator UpGrade or factory?

[Blanco1]

I just remembered a couple years ago while traveling in our '97 12 valve Dodge 5.9 while we still had our Lance TC in its bed, I developed a radiator leak & I just adding some Bars Radiator stop leak & been driving it since, with no issues , but now we stepped it up to a Travel trailer & I plan on a lot more trips taking us around the USA to camp & see the sights & realize, That radiator might just one day finally let loose & it would likely happen in the worst place? :surprise:

So I'm wondering if the factory replacement radiator that has plastic sides & part of it is reliable enough?

The Dash board cover in this Gen is ****!

So where is else did they try to save money?

Is it a safe bet while driving through Death Valley in august or Sept to run a replacement stock style radiator?

( I typically like to upgrade when ever replacing parts )
But do I need to?

& if so, is there a common best upgrade?

[Blanco1]

garyp4951 wrote:
Yes me too, I also saw a Mishimoto Aluminum for about $300 on Rock Auto.
For that trip make sure your fan clutch is goos also.

They do look good!
I'll call Rock Auto!

[garyp4951]

Yes me too, I also saw a Mishimoto Aluminum for about $300 on Rock Auto.
For that trip make sure your fan clutch is good also.

[Blanco1]

garyp4951 wrote:
https://www.radiatorexpress.com/product.asp?part_id=221747&aaia_id=1400162&gclid=CjwKCAjwr-PYBRB8EiwALtjbzxV2SYLD6SASJArMo_P7P_baXQ7ax6MV4B9e7k6Eidk05D3lB5krtRoCdjgQAvD_BwE

Thanks for the link, But I'll call them again later, I just called & the salesman seemed clueless!
He reminded me of a guy working at Pep Boys.
Does it have a sun roof?!?!?!

I told him twice I have a 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 4x4 with a 5.9 12 valve diesel & after telling him this a 2nd time he ask me if its a V8 or a 6 cylinder!

I have little patience for salesman that don't understand what they are selling!

[garyp4951]

https://www.radiatorexpress.com/product.asp?part_id=221747&aaia_id=1400162&gclid=CjwKCAjwr-PYBRB8EiwALtjbzxV2SYLD6SASJArMo_P7P_baXQ7ax6MV4B9e7k6Eidk05D3lB5krtRoCdjgQAvD_BwE

[BenK]

Example:


Find two at the exact same price...$500 bucks and same exact warranty

One has a two row core...other has a three row core...which has more cooling?

Or

One has internal tube fins...other doesn't...which has more cooling?

Or

Both has two row core...one has flattened tube and other has regular round tubes...flattened one has about 20% more tubes per row...which has more cooling?

Or one is $50 bucks less...but the one with a higher price has double the cooling capacity/potential...which is the better deal?

Just shopping price can beget a mud hen...

Etc, etc, etc, etc...

[Blanco1]

BenK wrote:
Hope this will help th OP weed through all of the different sakes/marketing/etc verbiage....

Most all of today’s radiators comes with plastic tanks. The hot tank is the usual that will fail...most crack to then leak

Plastic will not last as long as metal. More so on high temp applications.

There are all metal radiators, but most are either custom...or...stocked as a speciality. Meaning expensive. Therefore they only stock them for the most popular brands/models

Figment metrics are to the OEM radiator and to oversized cores

Cores...are the heat exchanger (AKA...thermal/heat rejection area), portion of the thermal rejection system. A liquid to gas

Surface area the most important, but the other attributes play into performance of the radiators

Tubes...round, semi-flattened, and oval are the most common. Cheapest is round

Laminar flow. Both liquid and air is NOT a good thing...flow in layers...closest hottest...next layer cooler..etc. turbulence to foil laminar flow will have cooler air/liquid touch...to cool better

The better ones will have fins on both exterior surfaces and internal surfaces...the mix it up (breaks up laminar flow)

Staggered tubes has the air flow change direction...so better thermal rejection

Finally...the number of tube rows...normally referenced as “2 core”, “4 core” etc...

These are multiplexed together to make up mud hen up to performance radiators

Hope this will help the OP compare apples to apples...

You just flew over my head dropping fragment bombs of confusion!

[BenK]

Hope this will help th OP weed through all of the different sakes/marketing/etc verbiage....

Most all of today’s radiators comes with plastic tanks. The hot tank is the usual that will fail...most crack to then leak

Plastic will not last as long as metal. More so on high temp applications.

There are all metal radiators, but most are either custom...or...stocked as a speciality. Meaning expensive. Therefore they only stock them for the most popular brands/models

Figment metrics are to the OEM radiator and to oversized cores

Cores...are the heat exchanger (AKA...thermal/heat rejection area), portion of the thermal rejection system. A liquid to gas

Surface area the most important, but the other attributes play into performance of the radiators

Tubes...round, semi-flattened, and oval are the most common. Cheapest is round

Laminar flow. Both liquid and air is NOT a good thing...flow in layers...closest hottest...next layer cooler..etc. turbulence to foil laminar flow will have cooler air/liquid touch...to cool better

The better ones will have fins on both exterior surfaces and internal surfaces...the mix it up (breaks up laminar flow)

Staggered tubes has the air flow change direction...so better thermal rejection

Finally...the number of tube rows...normally referenced as “2 core”, “4 core” etc...

These are multiplexed together to make up mud hen up to performance radiators

Hope this will help the OP compare apples to apples...

[Blanco1]

The cheapest non-full aluminum radiator is $675.00 that I have found.

Yet the Summit salesman had a good point about how my stock plastic radiator has worked fine for years with stop leak in it?

& FORD is now in a patent to a new plastic Cylinder hears that is made of plastic as well.

So maybe Plastic is ok?

[enblethen]

Ones at Rock auto, O'Reilly's and auto zone all have plastic bodies. O'Reilly's have changed since I got my full aluminum one from them.
Not sure if Summit racing is all aluminum.
I would never put in a crimped plastic to aluminum core radiator.
Barr's is a good product as a temporary fix and not a long term one.

[FishOnOne]

Lynnmor wrote:
A radiator from RockAuto is $116.79, no brainer.

Probably made in China too. I would avoid any Chinese knock offs.

[Blanco1]

time2roll wrote:

Blanco1 wrote:

time2roll wrote:

I never had trouble with BARR's Leak.

Are you saying don't worry about it, even years after adding the Bars stops leak to my radiator years ago?

I'm only considering the Radiator as the temps are climbing?
I'd hate to be on a less traveled road in a no cell phone signal area at 120 degrees & have that thing suddenly start leaking being I thinks Bars is only meant as a Temp repair to get you home rather than an actual repair?

Mild conditions I would continue to trust it. Not pulling the grades into DV in August.

Yeah & my wife wants to visit colorado & with those crazy grades they have I want a good Radiator.

I've looked up a quick search & right away four a 9.5 % grade that goes about 9 miles & climbing that might cause over heating issues & before we visit that area I also will want to get the Exhaust Brake installed for going down crazy stuff like that!

[time2roll]

Blanco1 wrote:

time2roll wrote:

I never had trouble with BARR's Leak.

Are you saying don't worry about it, even years after adding the Bars stops leak to my radiator years ago?

I'm only considering the Radiator as the temps are climbing?
I'd hate to be on a less traveled road in a no cell phone signal area at 120 degrees & have that thing suddenly start leaking being I thinks Bars is only meant as a Temp repair to get you home rather than an actual repair?

Mild conditions I would continue to trust it. Not pulling the grades into DV in August.

[Lynnmor]

A radiator from RockAuto is $116.79, no brainer.

[Blanco1]

cmeade wrote:
Company called Mishimoto makes replacement all aluminum radiators and I would replace my stock 2010 Ram radiator with one when mine needs work or repairs. Specs are impressive.

****!
I just checked the Summit Web Site & that Radiator is $675.00!

OUCH!!!

I know I know, You get what you pay for.