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radiator question

Yahoo Message Number: 77604
I'd like a little clarification on the defective radiator issue. Do the faulty radiators have aluminum cores with steel side tanks? Or are both the cores & side tanks aluminum?
Also, what is the preferrable radiator construction--copper core with steel side tanks?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Fred Compton

2002 Intrigue # 11407

Re: radiator question

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77610
Not a complete answer, but will share what I recall I was told to look for when shopping. Subject to correction by those that know more:)!
I was told to look for bolts/nuts on the side caps, and to also try a magnate on the sides. If it is has bolts, and is magnate attachable - then it was not one of the problem radiators.
On what is better, just am not up on the latest and greatest of radiator technology, so will read the other responses with interest.

Best,
Smitty

04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: radiator question

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77614
Fred - I've been through one radiator failure on my bus. A JB Radiator Specialty unit made from aluminum both in core and tanks was the one that puked. I don't think a radiator failure confines itself to just the radiator construction (copper versus aluminum) but should include a treatment of structural members and mounting design. Here's a slide show of my situation: http://muniac.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=16803460&AlbumKey=2qwGtc The pictures and captions will provide some insight on my theories, observations and opinions. Your bus is different so keep that in mind.
The replacement radiator is a copper core with steel tanks. I haven't a clue what its service life will be. The builder's one year warranty gives an idea of their confidence level. My Ford van went 190K miles before its radiator sprung a leak in the top tank. That radiator is an aluminum core with plastic top/bottom tanks and cost $150. It's also mounted properly within rubber grommets to allow complete movement during expansion. In contrast, the bus radiator ($3K) didn't make it more than 13K miles which is an outrage IMHO! Radiators undergo significant temperature swings easily in excess of 200F. The physical properties of materials tell us they expand when heated. Different materials expand at different rates which means rigidly joining dissimilar materials opens the door for damaging stresses and strains as temperature swing cycles occur. How soldered copper and steel will co-exist remains to be seen. This isn't rocket science yet seemed to escape the minds of those involved in my radiator's mounting. It gives new meaning to the word "professional" and calls us all to attention. Good luck and I hope this helps a few owners out there.

At 07:21 AM 2/24/2012, you wrote:
 

Re: radiator question

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77619
On our 2002 Intrigue, it was first suspected that the cause of our leak was the failure of the aluminum radiator. As it turned out when the radiator was removed for replacement, it was not an aluminum radiator. A rock had been thrown up somehow and damaged the copper core. I'm not sure about which part was steel and which part was copper but ours was not one of the aluminum ones from that year.

Steve B

2002 Intrigue #11382