Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) What type of Coolant to use in the 12 valver?

[FATCAT]

Yesterday while changing out the fuel filter I just glanced to my left and looked through the fan shroud and noticed a few rows of fins GONE from the radiator!



NOT AGAIN! I thought to myself. I had to have the radiator replaced a little over 2 years ago and its rotting again.



I was wondering if the Coolant could do this or if it was something else. This is a copper core radiator and I can't understand WTF is going on.



The A/C and Intercooler units are OK ... so what gives. My machanic changed out the radiator previously and filled it so I assume he used the green stuff.



Haven't had any overheating problems. The temp gauge goes up and down from 191 to 150 and back ... so no problems there.



Looks like I'll be getting another new radiator by this winter or maybe this spring ... should I go with an aluminum one this time?

 

[TRCM]

I wouldn't think the coolant would affect the rotting away of the cooling fins. If it did, you'd have coolant leaks too.



I'm curious as to why this happens myself, as the 97 I just bought has the same issues, and I've never seen this happen before on a gasser.



Not sure if aluminum would be any better or not. I just put an aluminum one in my gasser 4x4, because it works better, not due to a longer life expectancy.

 

[NPierce]

When I worked at the International shop, we used this addative called DCA. I dont know who makes it, but we used it to help keep the linings of the motor from getting build up and pitting that would cause pin whole leakes in the cylinder walls. (common problem on older 6. 9s and 7. 3s) I dont think cummins do this, not that I have heard of, but I added a couple of bottles to mine when I got it, for safe measures. We usually added 1 bottle to a gallon of antifreeze. Maybe that would help? Just an idea, not sure if it will help or not.

 

[RACE427]

Rotted radiator cooling fins

Up here in NY I have seen this condition on vehicles parked near the Atlantic Ocean in beach communities. The salt in the air causes them to rot away. Road salt deposits which are not flushed away at the end of the winter months will also cause this to happen. Whenever I get the chance to wash my vehicles, during any season, I always completely fush the radiator fins and the complete undercarriage and wheelwells, even behind the bumpers. Road salt is the absolute worse for rotting out your vehicle. On a quiet night you can hear your Dodge rusting away !! LOL :--)

 

[TRCM]

Maybe that explains it then... . my truck was bought in NY, and lived in NY & NJ for the first 5 yrs of it's life. And since it has a plow on it, well, we know what that means.



the body isn't all that bad tho, which kinda surprised me.

 

[FATCAT]

So Race427 ... would an Aluminum core be more resistant than my coppor core?

I would like to get another winter out of the radiator before replacing it.



I live only about 40 minutes from the ocean and the roads are covered with salt all winter long.

 

[surfbeetle]

I would think that alot of the issues with the radiator would be from the weather and temperatures that it is subjected to as well as things like road salt. I have 145,000 miles and 10 years on the original radiator, but I am in Southern Ca and the temps are 100 in the summer and only down to 30's in the winter and no road salt. Also, I use the red/orange havaline coolant.