Plastic Radiators

[Loridas]

I have a '99 Quad Cab. The service manual says that gas engines have plastic tank/aluminum core radiators, but the diesels are supposed to have brass tank/copper core radiators. My turbodiesel has a plastic tank/aluminum core radiator. Is this a change, or did I get the wrong radiator in my truck?

 

[Michael Hughes]

I have a 99 and it also has plastic tanks.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Brass/copper/whatever core... it's NOT aluminum and plastic tanks here... . on both of the trucks.



Matt

 

[FATCAT]

Plastic Tanks and Aluminum core!!!!!

Plastic and Alum. is a BAD combo. I had that combo on my old 1988 Chevy 3/4 and had to replace the tanks 3 times and the core twice.



I just had to replace my radiator a month or so ago (probably due to putting cardboard in front of rad. last winter ... got all wet and salty), and my machanic almost busted a gut trying to lift out the old one and put in a new one ... all metal tanks and core (copper).



I would think plastic and Alum. would not hold up to excessive heat and stress from the diesel ... but then again what do I know.

Maybe DC knows best ... not! Seems to be a weight savings issue for DC.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

my previous post didn't make much sense.



On both of the trucks here... . we have plastic tanks and a copper/brass/'WhateverTheHeckItIs' core... . the core is NOT aluminum, though.



The radiator in my truck is heavy (when full of coolant)..... I found that out while putting in my new 24-valve intercooler.....



Matt

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

All 2nd gen Rams have plastic tanks. Until around 1998, the diesels had copper cores. About 99 they went to aluminum cores. Probably save money. Also aluminum doesn't cool quite as well. The latter helps DC with all the calls complaining about the temperature cycling. That is caused partially by the huge cooling capacity of the copper radiator vs. the minimal heat put out by the engine under low power. When ambient temp is low, the engine block may provide enough cooling and the thermostat doesn't open. With a bit more power, just enough heat is produced to need a sip of cold water from the radiator once in a while. Thus the thermostat opens and closes, causing the temperature cycling. A "leaky" thermostat is one fix. Another is less radiator. That is another reason why late model owners seem to have more trouble with high coolant temperatures towing heavy trailers.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Good call Joe!



Matt

 

[jsimpson]

Aluminum does not have the cooling capacity of copper??? Copper is a better electrical conductor, but aluminum is a better heat conductor. If I remember my old (40 years) engineering books at all, the heat conductivity of aluminum is considerably higher than copper. But then, at my age, people have begun to call me Mr. Zeimers, or Al if they know me well enough!

 

[CumminsPower98]

Copper is better

Copper for sure transfers heat better. You pay more money to get a good CPU heat sink for your computer that at least has a copper plate in the bottom or all copper. Like others have said DC prolly went to aluminum to save money just like all the other short cuts they are doing. I have a '98 12v and it has plastic tanks and copper core. I used to have a Nissan Maxima, which came with plastic/aluminum. I had to replace it because of a crack in the plastic tank. The replacement was a copper core. The copper core had narrower tubes then the aluminum one did but cooled just as well. So I am a believer in copper.