• Welcome to H4O! For a reduced ad experience, please login or register with the forum.

Aluminum Radiator Leak

Clark

Well-Known Member
Messages
153
Location
New York
Hi Guys
I installed this aluminum radiator exactly 13 months ago. 1 month after my warranty expired I popped
a leak. Its just my luck. My question is Can an aluminum radiator be repaired??? its leaking where the fins meet
the bottom tank. I went to a radiator repair shop and I was told go buy a metal apoxy and do it myself. it would cost
alot to fix. Any Opinions??? Thanks:emb: rad.jpg
 
Last edited:

Happy Hummer

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,300
Location
Wisconsin
I believe aluminum can be repaired with the proper equipment and know how. Conversely you could replace it again with another radiator.
 

Clark

Well-Known Member
Messages
153
Location
New York
Epoxy is a temporary fix. How much did he quote to fix it. Shouldn't be more than $100 max.
To tell you the truth the guy looked like he didn't want to be bothered, He just said it's gonna cost alot of money.
this is what I have to deal with here.
 

Clark

Well-Known Member
Messages
153
Location
New York
No I got it on eBay. I've been trying to email the seller to see if we can work out a deal
on another one. He has yet to answer me. I got it from a jersey based seller.
 
Last edited:

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
Messages
1,586
Location
Irvine,ca
This is problem with aluminum radiators.
They fixed problem with plastic side tanks but core is still venerable. Most likely u had some old coolant left over from install and it ate it from inside.

Repair is expensive ~600 (they have to detach tanks and weld it shut then reattach tanks back) if u look at the core most likely there more dark/black spots that is your next leak.
Damp it and get regular one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

alrock

El Diablo
Staff member
Messages
10,442
Location
Scottsdale
I just replaced my cheap eBay radiator (standard plastic) and went back to AC Delco. While I haven't measured it with an OBDII reader, I swear it's running cooler in that the gauge is a tick or two below where it has run for a while. The AC Delco ones are not expensive and while they are not bulletproof the tend to last a few years at least. And in my case, it was working better than a cheap knockoff.
 

JPaul

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,400
Location
Way up north, UT
I have seen very few people have good luck with anything that isn't AC Delco on these rigs. I don't know what it is, but you really need the OEM replacement for almost any part, otherwise it just breaks a few thousand miles down the road.
 

Clark

Well-Known Member
Messages
153
Location
New York
Well guys I went to 3 different radiator repair shops today and all I got were ridiculous prices for a small leak repair. I stopped at a local GM
dealer out of curiosity and I inquired about an AC/Delco radiator after the parts attendant told me $398.00 plus tax. I walked out. From my
experiences I have real bad luck with plastic tanks. I'm going to continue shopping around. And CSF has a new improved aluminum radiator. For a few bucks more
than AC/Delco
Thanks guys for all your advice.
 

Bruces

Well-Known Member
Messages
215
Location
Portland, TN
My csf sprang a leak and from following other csf owners their did too. I will be shopping around this summer to see if I can get it fixed. Mine is leaking about 8 inches from bottom on left inside edge. Should be an easier fix than yours.
 

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,212
Location
Tardville
The H3 has very flemsy frame rails. The radiator needs to be rubber mounted to allow for the flex. I know the Delco radiator mounts with small pins that sit in cups...probably to allow it to move around independently of the core support. Perhaps these aluminum units are bolted solid?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

rascole

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,580
Location
Bellflower, CA
The H3 has very flemsy frame rails. The radiator needs to be rubber mounted to allow for the flex. I know the Delco radiator mounts with small pins that sit in cups...probably to allow it to move around independently of the core support. Perhaps these aluminum units are bolted solid?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The CSF sits in rubber bushings like the factory one.
 

08H3

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,314
Location
United States
I know it doesn't help your current situation, but I'll add that I really don't see anything wrong with the OEM radiator in the H3 if you end up going back to it. My first one lasted over 160,000 miles which I have no complaints about. I think that was about the longest I had ever made it with any radiator.
 

amrg

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,317
Location
Qatar
I replaced the oem radiator twice under warranty on each of my vehicles and once out of it (so 3 on 1 truck and 2 on another)
All within 100K miles for each truck!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 

Traxx

Well-Known Member
Messages
682
Location
PNW
Because of the integrated trans cooler, I put an oem radiator in every 50-60k. It's cheaper than a transmission, isn't that difficult of a job, and you get peace of mind. I live in a cold climate so I don't feel like dealing with an external cooler and bypass. I usually leave common parts like brakes, cv's, radiators, etc. in a wish list in amazon and grab them when they have price drops.
 

08H3

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,314
Location
United States
Because of the integrated trans cooler, I put an oem radiator in every 50-60k. It's cheaper than a transmission, isn't that difficult of a job, and you get peace of mind. I live in a cold climate so I don't feel like dealing with an external cooler and bypass. I usually leave common parts like brakes, cv's, radiators, etc. in a wish list in amazon and grab them when they have price drops.

Why wouln't you get one without the oil cooler and install an external one anyway? Even if you dont need it, it would be cheaper than a new radiator every 50k, plus your time.
 

Traxx

Well-Known Member
Messages
682
Location
PNW
A radiator is less than 2 bills every 50k. I don't find that overly expensive and I don't charge myself for my own time. I like tinkering with the thing and it gives me an excuse to look for new stuff to do to it. I'm one of those weird people that believe in proactive maintenance.

Why wouln't you get one without the oil cooler and install an external one anyway? Even if you dont need it, it would be cheaper than a new radiator every 50k, plus your time.
 

05Mudiak

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Lake Charles, LA
now you can get a Ron Davis Rad built without the trans cooler and make it a dual row rad. This is the only company that offers this to order. You just have to call them, the only h3 rad listed on their website is the one with a trans cooler. Now with that Ron Davis is the top of the line never replace again type rad. For those that are into off road racing know all about Ron Davis. So with that being said this rad will run you about $750.


I have a CSF and its being going strong for a couple years now.
 

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
Messages
1,586
Location
Irvine,ca
If u do that make sure u flash old coolant out good. But it is still can leak from core. I had to replace mine on F350 with aftermarket cause RD had a pinhole and repair was expensive and probably useless due to other developing problems.
Lasted ~les that 2 years.
Also have one in 3T for about 2 years but it hasn’t been driven in 2 years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

alrock

El Diablo
Staff member
Messages
10,442
Location
Scottsdale
Ron Davis Radiators have a great, well earned reputation, but that's not necessarily a bullet-proof measure. I've watched one friend go through two or three of them in a short period with his Jeep build. The H3 one was built with Bebe's assistance as her H3 was the test vehicle.

Traxx' method works well too - new every two years, and you'll have a reliable unit for less $.
 

rascole

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,580
Location
Bellflower, CA
A radiator is less than 2 bills every 50k. I don't find that overly expensive and I don't charge myself for my own time. I like tinkering with the thing and it gives me an excuse to look for new stuff to do to it. I'm one of those weird people that believe in proactive maintenance.
An option but the unreliability with the possibility of a failure while out on the trail or a 100 miles from civilization is not worth it for me.
 
Top