Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Why are my radiators failing?

[samsonite01]

So Iv been having this problem ongoing for about 1.5 years now. Iv had a thread on these dang aluminium radiators before....well agian the upper driverside inlet is leaking from fin/tank connection! Manufacturer has replaced three rads now. WHY IS THIS HAPPINING!!!!

No electric problems
No blown head gasket
Using regular green coolant.

I now realize this 700$ rad was a waste.

 

[Bob4x4]

Frame/mountings flexing?or just a weak design.

 

[samsonite01]

Didnt think the 01s had a frame flex prob. Isolated mounting with at least 1/4in play inthe rubber holders

 

[DVolk]

My Dad was a 40 year radaitor man so i know more than Anwswer these questions
1. Is your radaitor cap of the correct pressure ?
2. Are you running a new cap ? , is the cap not swelling out the rubber ?
3. Have you replaced the thermostat ? If so is it a OEM Cummins or Dodge or ?
4. Did you replace the water pump if so the brand ? OEM Cummins / Dodge or ?
6 Are you running any addiditive , like a ant i rust corrision additive ? I use water soluible oil in my radaitor i get it from Napa its for machining puyrpises this is the same stuff you buy pre mixed i badd a cup every year ,Antifreeze only gets dirty never weres out I have anifreeze over 20 years old and still test like new and rafdaitors look like new .
You say you replace the radaitor are you making sure the air has been bled out so it dont have a air pocket ?

 

[samsonite01]

Thank you DVolk.

The rad cap on the mishimoto radiator pops at 19.5psi. I assume they build the rads to handle that kind of pressure. I tested the first and second rad with a air. At around 20psi both caps started to relieve. Soap water would revieal bubbles around the fin connection to tank in different places on each failed rad. First below the upper inlet then on bottom opposite corner. Now on the third one it leaking on both sides

Thermo replaced with dodge stealership. Part # corresponds with cummins.

Water pump never changed. Assume its og. 171k

Fluid was clean when changed first time. Has been properly flushed and changed each time rad was replaced.
I run no additive. Havoline conventional/distilled water. System burped properly.

My prognosis; After the second Mishimoto radiator fail i had a chat with the guys at Griffin. They explained the different manufacturing processes of aluminium rads. To my knowlage michimoto rads are built in china. They use some type of oven baked brazeing process to connect the rows of cooling fins to the tank. Griffin (what i should have bought) hand solders each fin/row. I belive the Mishimoto rads are an inferior cheap built product thats slammed together in a sweat shop overseas and then advertised as high performance product that idiots like me waste money and time on!!!!!!!!!!! Shure they work great on tunner cars and dirt bikes but they cannot stand up to good old American muscle. Im sorry for slamming a product on here and i hope im wrong but im ****** about wasting money and time on somthing i thought was going to be good. 725$ at summit. Then I was charged 50$ freight for each faild rad. 2 of them. Plus the coolant each time 60$ x2. I just tonight swaped in a Napa 199$ rad. If this one sees the same problems i promise i will post the whole story with an apology to Mishimoto. If it works with no problems i guess im just out of luck. Getting money back???? Probly not.

 

[DVolk]

For less than what paid you could have had a custom build at a good radaitor shop that is hand built .one company that ships nation wide is Macs Radaitor in Portland, Ore 503-777-4706

 

[samsonite01]

YES! An American product. It will be very very very great!!!!

 

[DVolk]

They will also tell you what to run ,but you want a anti rust and corrosion additive that's what oil does