Radiator, repair or replace?

I can attest to the fact that Water Wetter works. I use it in my CBR600 Honda and it keeps the temp gauge from swinging towards the top of the range in traffic on hot days. Many bike racers use it on the track too, you can only run water or water plus wetter in your cooling systems racing. I'd say it scores a out of 5 possible anyway.

 

question was posted about plastic tank radiators...

My experience on 2 vehicles purchased very cheaply with popped head gaskets is that the plastic tanks fail at the incorrect times, like while you own the car. The 2 examples I have dealt with lost a hose mounting point, one radiator hose and one heater hose. Total drain at speed, total overheat. Others I know of have had similar issues. No failures between the core and the tank, always in the tank. Never will put a plastic jobbie in any of my cars unless there is no other choice.

My local shop here in town has always been able to get me a replacement Modine (some US, some Mexico) brass tank radiator for anything I've been working on. And they can get new cores to braze into the tanks if something is really unobtainable.

Good luck,
Tom

 

I have installed only one plastic tank radiator, failed within two years while car was parked in driveway during the winter. The best I could see at the time, it was the tank/core connection that failed.

 

We're on rad #3 with our Trooper at just under 200k miles. No. 2 was an Indonesian made unit I suspect was a plastic job. Current one is a Modine unit, seems to be holding up much better.

 

I am assuming you meant aluminum versus brass tank radiators. All things being equal brass is actually vastly superior to aluminum when it comes to heat transfer. Perhaps your old radiator was partially plugged or just undersized for its application.

 

I determined that it leaks when under pressure. Cause when it sits it's just fine. So I bit the bullet and bought a new one, 109.99 at O'riely auto parts. Aluminum with plastic tanks, not to thrilled about that. But what can ya do? Just hope it keeps the Rocket cool

 

I hope you kept the old one so you can get it repaired later

 

Don't worry, I plan on it! But my goal for now it get it back on the road and as a back up daily driver.

 

Should be plenty of well-qualified radiator shops in your area. Find a good one, have them look at it and get their opinion.