Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Aftermarket Radiator??

[fishjack1]

Well my radiator has sprung a leak and it seems the ole Bar Leak is not helping. It is leaking from the lower passenger side where the plastic meets the main core.



My question is should I go with an aftermarket radiator or get a OEM unit.

Mopar4less has a darn good price on a stocker - they beat most of the local parts stores here in town.



So many aftermarket units online but I hate to order one with a "lifetime" warranty online not knowing what I am getting.



Thanks.

 

[ata]

I bought a radiator on line and when it got here through shipping it was junk tried again same thing. So I bought local paid the price but got a good one. Truck was down 1 1/2 weeks waiting. (Food for thought) Got mine from NAPA little over $500 life time guarantee.

 

[fishjack1]

ata -

Yep - I have considered the torture it could go through in shipping. . but considering the price it might be worth a try...



It's not leaking bad enough "yet" to put me out of commission but slowly getting worse. .



thanks

 

[fishjack1]

FWIW

Yesterday I ordered a Modine Radiator (3 row with a copper brass core) from Radiatorworld.com. The stock radiator was a 2 row aluminium core.



It arrived today in perfect shape and I just got finished installing it - the radiator swap was on of the easiest things I have done on the truck. .



Shipping was included in the price and they beat the price of any other vendor I could find (online or local) and I got it overnight.



I decided to try the Havoline Extended Life Antifreeze this time instead of the Shellzone I have been using. The Havoline is much easier to find around here for a decent price.



I ended up buying a new radiator cap - it is rated at 16 psi the stocker was 15 psi... Called about 3 different auto parts stores and they all listed the 16 psi cap???



Anyway - maybe this one will last another 210,000 miles. .

 

[BPINE]

Fishjack please let us know if it cools any beter as well. I don't know if you tow a big trailer or not but if you do you know the water temps can get out of control.

 

[ata]

FWIW

Yesterday I ordered a Modine Radiator (3 row with a copper brass core) from Radiatorworld.com. The stock radiator was a 2 row aluminium core.



Dodge must have up-graded the radiators in 1997. My 97 came with a 3 row and was copper-brass core. But still had the plastic tanks that separated on the left side.

 

[fishjack1]

Bpine - the biggest thing I tow is my boat - it's about 6000 #s. . Will post back it mades any noticable difference. .



ata - well after looking in my old (stock) radiator it has 3 rows also??

 

[HEMI®Dart]

fishjack,



see this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76856&page=1&pp=15&highlight=Radiator

 

[hammersley]

Hey what happened to that Radiator Buy??????

Did it go through AND did it help the problems?????

 

[fishjack1]

hammersley - as far as "problems" - my major problem was the stock leaking radiator. It was not leaking from the the plastic tank it actually had a leak in the radiator itself.



The new radiator went in easy... I have not noticed any big difference in running temps... (again as I mentioned above I don't tow heavy) but at least it's not leaking.

 

[budctdca]

MODINE: pretty good radiators that are lifetime warranty, and if you have a good parts store that carries modine, they might swap it out for you if you ever had a problem... we used to do it at the NAPA store I worked at... even if the cust did not have a receipt... but most places won't do that.



Did you flush all the bars leak out of you motor before putting in the new radiator? Because that stuff works pretty good but it gets EVERYWHERE in your coolant system, not just in your radiator... so this means intake manifold, which can lead to pocket boiling, in your thermostat and everywhere in between. . just my . 02 worth

Luke

 

[fishjack1]

Luke - yep I flushed the cooling system for about 30 minutes before I put everything back together.



I definitely wanted to get all that stuff out of the system.

Thanks for the advise.

 

[EBottema]

FWIW

Yesterday I ordered a Modine Radiator (3 row with a copper brass core) from Radiatorworld.com. The stock radiator was a 2 row aluminium core.



It arrived today in perfect shape and I just got finished installing it - the radiator swap was on of the easiest things I have done on the truck. .



Shipping was included in the price and they beat the price of any other vendor I could find (online or local) and I got it overnight.



I decided to try the Havoline Extended Life Antifreeze this time instead of the Shellzone I have been using. The Havoline is much easier to find around here for a decent price.



I ended up buying a new radiator cap - it is rated at 16 psi the stocker was 15 psi... Called about 3 different auto parts stores and they all listed the 16 psi cap???



Anyway - maybe this one will last another 210,000 miles. .

How much did it cost you and what application did it come from?

 

[fishjack1]

EBottema -



It cost - $319. 00 and is a "stock replacement" for the OEM radiator.



It arrived UPS the next day in great shape - no shipping damage.

 

[The patriot]

Do you happen to know if they make an upgrade?

My truck isnt running hot... pre say, it is however running hotter than it used to since installing the big bumper.

I found a place that has radiators VERY cheap.

I bought one for my wifes 92 jeep gran cherokee 6 cyl. It was UNDER $90. 00 delivered!!!! Locally they were double that.

Yea, it was made in indonesia, it was plastic and aluminum (like the orig one)

but if they'll match prices... .....

I think I got it at 1 800 radiators.

I have a business license, so it helped a lot.

Eric