Radiator Leaking... which one to buy?

[Yo Hoot]

How important is a vin number in ordering a radiator fro my 2004 Cummins?
I looked up on Rock Auto. They don't ask for a vin...

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3759702&cc=1424641&jsn=12

Thanks
Mike

 

[Motorhead]

I would have the vin number handy anytime you order parts for your truck. I would be concerned what FOREIGN country the radiator is made in when buying from Rock Auto.

 

[BigPapa]

I don't know about the OSC, but I am running a Spectra Premium from Rock Auto in my '98. It's done great now for over three years and @ 125K miles.

Why spend more?

 

[Yo Hoot]

I don't know about the OSC, but I am running a Spectra Premium from Rock Auto in my '98. It's done great now for over three years and @ 125K miles.

Why spend more?

The OSC wasn't much more. I guess I watched the video on how they build their radiators and felt that $12 more was worth it. Before these aftermarket parts came out these things were two and three times the price. Some I saw on this forum were paying over $600.

 

[JR]

I don't know about the OSC, but I am running a Spectra Premium from Rock Auto in my '98. It's done great now for over three years and @ 125K miles.

Why spend more?

Same here, I got mine at NAPA. The quality of the radiator seems well, especially for the price. Spectra is a large manufacturer of radiators.

http://www.spectrapremium.com/products/radiators.html#

 

[Yo Hoot]

Same here, I got mine at NAPA. The quality of the radiator seems well, especially for the price. Spectra is a large manufacturer of radiators.

http://www.spectrapremium.com/products/radiators.html#

I can't argue which is better. Actually the OSC was only $12 more than the Spectra.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I would have the vin number handy anytime you order parts for your truck. I would be concerned what FOREIGN country the radiator is made in when buying from Rock Auto.

My truck was built in Mexico

 

[JR]

I can't argue which is better. Actually the OSC was only $12 more than the Spectra.

Certainly no arguments here, I looked at the link you provided, they do seem like well built radiators. Everything I've bought from RockAuto has been of satisfactory quality.

 

[BigPapa]

Some I saw on this forum were paying over $600.

There's a thread here somewhere from a fellow who bought a performance aluminum radiator for $800 that he has had warrantied already and the replacement is leaking. He was talking about cutting the tanks off and reworking it himself, AGAIN. I would much rather pay less than $200 for what I have.

 

[sag2]

I put a 1-800-radiator in my Dakota swap to save some money. I had to have it replaced once under warranty, free after 4 years but not sure it is of the same quality as an OEM. Unfortunately they don't make the OEM any longer and this is advertised as OEM construction, but still thinking they are significantly less money for a reason.

 

[JR]

Are the OEM radiators in the 3rd gen copper? The 2nd gens are, and copper is every bit of a third more expensive than aluminum. Production quality aside, aluminum radiators are generally stronger, lighter, and cheaper. They can utilize wider tubes which results in more surface cooling area and fewer needed cores.
Fewer cores = less material = lower costs.

 

[Wayne M.]

I just ran n looked. The most expensive one is Valero. I bet that was the OE Suplier and close to the original.

 

[JR]

I just ran n looked. The most expensive one is Valero. I bet that was the OE Suplier and close to the original.

Is your OE rad copper or aluminum?

Just curious more than anything.

 

[Wayne M.]

Is your OE rad copper or aluminum?

Just curious more than anything.

IIRC alum. But I'm not near it now. Plastic tanks for sure.

 

[JR]

Plastic tanks for sure.

As were the 2nd gens

 

[MMeier]

Are the OEM radiators in the 3rd gen copper? The 2nd gens are, and copper is every bit of a third more expensive than aluminum. Production quality aside, aluminum radiators are generally stronger, lighter, and cheaper. They can utilize wider tubes which results in more surface cooling area and fewer needed cores.
Fewer cores = less material = lower costs.

Couple 2nd gens I've had were aluminum/ plastic.

 

[JR]

Later 2nd gens may have went aluminum, but the OE in my 98 and 00 were both copper.

 

[MMeier]

Interesting, mine were a 94 and a 97.

 

[inlinesix3million]

My truck was built in Mexico

Assembled in Mexicali. Parts are from all over.

 

[Wayne M.]

Is your OE rad copper or aluminum?

Just curious more than anything.

Sorry, totally forgot about this thread