Radiator question

[EDankievitch]

I was just looking over a 2018 Ram at my dealer while they did my water pump recall and I was noticing that the radiator looked very much the same size and number of tubes as the main radiator on my 2013. My truck has that extra 2nd auxiliary radiator and those stupid plastic "Y" pipes. Can I remove that 2nd Radiator and set this thing up like a newer truck with just one unit or is the Radiator on the newer 2018 trucks larger 3 or 4 tube core? I'm coming up with two part numbers for both trucks, 52014720AA and 52014738AA, and everything that I can find say they are the same size same number of tubes. But who know how accurate the auto parts store parts online system is. That auxiliary unit has only one row of tubes. I've had the "Y" pipe fail and really do not want to deal with it failing again. I've got a cooling system flush to do this spring if I can remove a future headache I'd like to do it then. And two simple hoses with out that "Y" pipe would be a home run. Any thoughts?

 

[Learjet]

get the aftermarket metal Y and don't worry about it again. There is more to it then what you are thinking.

 

[Bob4x4]

It’s been done,but the aftermarket metal y’s are a viable fix.

 

[gsbrockman]

Any thoughts?

The new Y pipe (AD version) is on its 3rd revision. My AD has been great through 123K miles (the OE one went 223K miles).

52014722AD

 

[kthaxton]

Yeah, I'd upgrade the Y pipe before removing a radiator.

 

[EDankievitch]

OK, still does not answer my question. Is the main Radiator on my 2013 the same size and tube number as the one on the 2018 truck in my dealers lot with out the 2nd aux radiator? I come up with two part numbers for the main unit but both numbers say they are the same size and number of tubes. Is this info correct or is the parts manual wrong?

 

[kthaxton]

I cannot verify myself, but a couple of years ago, in I believe the newbie forum, I asked about 2015's not having dual radiators even though Ram's literature said they did. One response, which if I recall, was one of the TDR head honchos, replied that he had learned that the two radiators were the exact same part number.

 

[EDankievitch]

Hmmm... Good to know thank you for the Info. After having the "y" pipe fail I'm all about making things simple and way more reliable. I'm never going to MAX out this truck Never Maxed out any truck that I owned even that hauled very large and heavy boats with.
Never came up short on cooling with that truck or the single radiator 2012 that I had before this 13. That single row of tubes in that aux radiator just kill my winter heat that much faster when the "T" stat opens. If that main Radiator is the same part number and size as the one they are using on 15 and newer single system trucks it's a No brainier. I'll remove it and offer it for sale on here. Adding those aluminum "Y" pipes is a fix however what extra stress does that put on the plastic hose bibs on the Radiator tanks? Only time will tell I guess. And I have yet to see a "Y" pipe for the lower hose offered.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Geno's Garage is coming out with a very strong TIG-welded stainless steel Y and good band clamps.

 

[Newsa]

Geno's Garage is coming out with a very strong TIG-welded stainless steel Y and good band clamps.

Will this have 5 band clamps?

 

[EDankievitch]

Everyone makes fun of those cheap spring hose clamps. How can that cheap band of metal be good for holding the hoses on? Well They actually do a far better job than you think. Constant tension clamps as they are called. They provide just enough pressure on the hose and fitting to prevent leaks with out crushing the life out of the hose. Worm screw and band clamps offer the ability to put heavy clamping pressure on what ever you tighten them down on. However what happens after a few heat and cool cycles? The hose clamp holds it's adjusted size but the hose gets squashed out. after a bunch of cycles the hose will become loose under the clamp. I learned this the hard way back in 1995 in the middle of a corn field in Missouri when my transmission cooler hose blew off. After that trip I replaced every hose clap on that 89 with those spring clamps and never had an issue again with hoses leaking or blowing off. So don't dismiss those cheap looking clamps. Sometimes just enough is way more than you need.