I'm looking for a new radiator now that I see mine is leaking from somewhere in the middle of the block (dripping down to the petcock and leaving a tiny puddle)

So I searched ebay and my usual parts places, and I see prices from $50 to $200.

The $200, of course, are going to be the all aluminum blocks with like 4 lines of coolant.

The $50 are usually the aluminum cores with plastic.

Now are the $50 ones THAT bad and unreliable? Anyone speak from experience? I did a search for a previous post like this, but there's too many "radiator leak! HELP!" threads to sort them out (if there are any at all)

I'm a little short on money now because I've been saving up for tires. Tires are coming in 2 weeks, so I don't want to blow another $200 on a radiator.

 

try here http://www.radiatorbarn.com/

 

Go to NAPA, schucks/kragen/o'reillys/etc, etc. I got a decent aluminum core/plastic casing one from NAPA for $150, albeit, it will most likely be cheaper where you live though. I put mine in my '93 early November. I didn't have any problems, but I sold it last week, so that wasn't very much time. But....but it was good enough.

 

Yes, I've been looking there as well. But it doesnt help the question: are plastic tanks a bad thing? Do they cause problems? What's the advantage of plastic tank versus metal?

 

I think it's as good or as bad as metal tanks. I got a napa radiator with the aluminum core and plastic tanks, working fine for 6 months so far.

Also, my girl's '02 4Runner has a plastic tank alum. core radiator from the factory.

 

I've been running this RAD for almost a year now with no problems.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYOT...Q5fAccessories

My stock metal fan shroud wouldn't bolt up to this RAD so I called the seller and he shipped me put a plastic shroud that worked, I had to cut it but but it works great now.

I'm also using a denso RAD cap from the dealer, the stant cap I had couldn't create a good seal on this RAD. Other then that it's been working great. I had 3 RAD from Autozone and CSK Auto but they were all the same brand - PROLIANCE/READYRAD and all of them leaked at the filler neck weld in only a few months of use. I was so upset that I wrote them demanding a refund. Since then this Aluminum RAD has worked great.

 

Wow. Im just curious, did you ever get the refund? Don't those brands usually have a lifetime warranty?

 

Yes, they were nice enough to refund me, keep all your receipts. It does have a lifetime warranty but after changing out 3 RAD's in a year and a half I was a little irritated to say the least. All the money for the coolant and my time is non-refundable, I just wanted something that worked. Even the paint job was cheap, those clowns never even allowed the paint to cure before they threw it in the box, one of the RAD's and the styrofoam indents in the paint.

The ebay seller is a super cool guy if you buy from him, he helped me out fast with the shroud problem, plus he offers a lifetime warranty on his RAD too. It looks pretty good in my engine bay too.

 

If it is the old brass type of radiator you can pull apart some of the finning around the leak and pinch and roll the leaky with some needle nose pliers I have done this on the trail when a stick got me radiator so I aalways replace with the OEM type unless your savvy enough to build some radiator armor, relocate it to the rear or dont wheel in the forest so your not worried.

 

replaced mine 4 years ago with this. Working fine as we speak.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyot...Q5fAccessories

 

Don't get the life-time waranteed one from Advance Auto Parts... It is a nice aluminum core and plastic side tank rad, that keeps the motor running really cool, but if would have been a lot better if it wasn't too tall and I wouldn't have had to cut out some hood supports to get the cap to clear

I'm going all aluminum with the next replace if needed; and I'm expecting to pay some high $$$ for it too... that depends on what's in your budget... me personally, I just don't like the fact of overheating, or even getting close to that point

 

I've been researching plastic radiators, and it looks like a majority of auto makers now are putting them in newer vehicles.

And if it breaks...it's only $75. I guess what I'll look at doing is getting a cheaper one for now and stash away money for an all aluminum one.

 

you just have to be carefull tightening down hose clamps around the plastic outlets on them... I've seem a few crumble when over-tightened...

might not be such a big problem on a brand new one, but on an older plastic one that been through a hole lotta heat-up-cool-down cycles, they probably start to weak'n...

 

Yeah. Just like those wiring harness protectors. Nice and flexible when they're new, but once they're in the engine bay for a few years they get brittle and crack.

 

precisely

 

Well ya see, after this stunt, although I dont recall exactly which type of radiator it is, because my mechanic put it in...but Id go with the strongest you can get...I could have made it home had the radiator not gotten cracked by cheap fiberglass from the other vehicle....

 

That's a good point, but right now if i get in a wreck I'll have more to worry about than just the radiator. Right now the engine isnt even worth keeping in the truck. After I redo the head/valves and piston rings this summer, I'll definitely upgrade the radiator after that. Right now I just need something that doesnt leak and gets the job done.

 

Ahh, Well in the end its all on you, just drive safely and watch out for them rhinos

 

did yer gas-door open upon impact!

 

No, I was too lazy to ever get the cylinder lock keyed to my key...I never had a problem with stolen gas...*knock on wood*...