Gen 2 - Radiator

[All-Terrain]

Looks like RockAuto has a few options - would you guys go with the Valeo radiator?

Or is there a better option?

 

[billygoats]

See if a good rad shop can recore and repair your crack....assuming it's the oem brass radiator. Many of the aftermarkets are plastic end tanks. Oe metal are sturdier. Perhaps have them add a third core to the oem one too.

 

[ManfromSnowyRiver]

recore, add 3 row.

 

[TheMole]

I replaced my OEM one with a CSF metal radiator and it has been working fine for the past 6 months so far. I kept the OEM brass radiator to rebuild in case the CSF goes bad.

 

[All-Terrain]

I replaced my OEM one with a CSF metal radiator and it has been working fine for the past 6 months so far. I kept the OEM brass radiator to rebuild in case the CSF goes bad.

Interesting option.

Do you have any photos of the CSF radiator?

How do you like the quality?

Definitely would love some details on it!

 

[TheMole]

I can snap a few pics tomorrow. Quality seems good and everything fit as it should when I installed it. One thing that was different is that there is no hose coming from the radiator drain plug like the oem does. Part number should be CSF 3050, but please double check.

 

[TheMole]

Not sure if you can see much, but here are a couple of pics.

 

[All-Terrain]

Thanks --- so those are photos of your new CSF radiator? It looks like an OEM one... I was expecting a bright, polished aluminum looking thing...?

Glad to hear it is a decent quality option. I don't want to do the $600+ OEM radiator, nor do I want to do the half-plastic $150 aftermarket thing.

How have your temps been? Any lower or higher than with the OEM radiator?

 

[TheMole]

Yea thats the CSF radiator installed. I have an ultragauge which displays the temps and it has been about the same. Daily driving ranges from 197-204F and highest I remember it going was 214F on a long stretch of highway that was uphill.

 

[All-Terrain]

Ok great - I actually like that it looks more OEM.

I was hoping it would act to keep the temps down some. That's too bad.

Thanks for posting!!!

By the way, how was the radiator replacement job? Pretty simple? Undo the hoses, drain it, undo a couple mounting bolts and pull it?

 

[TheMole]

No problem! Replacement was pretty straight forward. I replaced the thermostat and upper/lower hoses as well. Few tips:

-Remove airbox for easier access to passenger side mounting bolts
-May need some ATF as there are some trans cooling lines that go into the radiator
-Might be a good time to flush the cooling system as well

 

[All-Terrain]

No problem! Replacement was pretty straight forward. I replaced the thermostat and upper/lower hoses as well. Few tips:

-Remove airbox for easier access to passenger side mounting bolts
-May need some ATF as there are some trans cooling lines that go into the radiator
-Might be a good time to flush the cooling system as well

Cool. Did you use a DIY or just fumble your way through it?

 

[TheMole]

I've done it on other cars before so just went with the flow. :smiley_drive:

edit: I didn't know this until after the fact, but there is a bleeder valve above the thermostat that you can unscrew to bleed the system as outlined in the FSM.

 

[KyleT]

What size is the hose for the Trans cooler?

 

[TheMole]

What size is the hose for the Trans cooler?

Mine still looked to be in good condition so not sure. Maybe someone else can verify.