radiator questions.

[1990silverbullet]

Hi I have been having trouble with radiators and need help finding a good one. First off my first radiator( allumium stock radiator) had a hole and leaked. I got a used one from a junk yard took it too a radiator shop, they cleaned and made sure it could hold pressure. About a month later that one got a hole in it. I need to know what would be the best brand for a replacement(considering I don't have 700$ to get oem from Toyota) Is mishimoto a good brand?

 

[HanginInUtah]

So, my experience, to qualify: I spent a year as outside sales and two more years as a store manager for Napa.
Most of the parts stores carry radiators made by Spectra Premium. From what I can remember, I had very few returns, and they carry a lifetime warranty. Now, for the cheaper price, you can get one from Rockauto.com. But getting warranty thru them may be tricky, I've never tried. The store will be a bit more. And warranty through the store would be no problem.
I know a lot of 4Runner peeps like OEM parts. I'm not knocking them, but I also like to do other things with that money. When I know the part is a good quality, I'm willing to go non-OEM.
And by the way, Napa also carries a line of import parts made by the OEM suppliers in their Altrom line. They do not carry any import radiators, but they do carry the Sankei brand cap.

And make sure you order a new cap, because the new radiator won't come with one.

 

[Beaumont67]

Spectra Premium Industries is a quality company.
- used their A/C Evap Core and it was identical to OEM, on my 2000 4Runner
- they have 3 plants in Ontario & one in Quebec, Canada
Spectra Premium Industries

Their replacement gas tanks are also awesome / got one on my '98 Silverado 4x4.
- there sheet-roll steel manufacturing is spec.'ed with a higher Nickel content / so rust is slow to form, on exterior of tanks

 

[1990silverbullet]

lol its kinda funny because spectra premium was the radiator I swapped into it. Grated it was a used radiator. Honest im a little skeptical to put it back in my car,but if that's whats recommended ill take a chance, and since im getting it from napa ill get the warranty. Thanks for the input

Does anyone recommend any other brands or should I stick with spectra? Im going to make it a trail runner not a dedicated rock crawler but something I can crawl and daily. Does it cool better with more rows? should I get something with more than one rows or does it really matter??

 

[HanginInUtah]

One more quick opinion.
The one you got was used, and yes, you took it to a shop. I've worked with a few different shops, and they're good... but old and used is hard to predict usable life on. Was there gunk that didn't come out when it was cleaned and checked, but came loose later and opened a weak spot? Did the previous owner of the used part drive it like it was stolen, creating weak spots and stress points that couldn't be identified by the shop but would fail? Polishing a turd is possible, but isn't a good warranty.
Don't get me wrong... I buy a lot from my favorite wrecking yards, and I use radiator shops all the time with the fleet I manage. But used is used, and there are some inherited risks that come with the cheaper price for the part.

Sorry to sound down about your choices. It's awesome you're working on your rig and reviving it. But I wouldn't rate a new part based on how a used part performed. There are far too many variables.

 

[RAD4Runner]

Like HanginUtah says^^^

CSF is also a good brand. reasonable prices.

 

[1990silverbullet]

yea that's kinda what is was thinking, and ill get a warranty with it so if anything happens ill just take it back. Thanks for your input ill let you know if and when it gives out.

 

[giro]

Not quite what you are looking for, but I've fixed a couple pinholes at the top of my radiator with epoxy. The radiator is presumably stock, and I believe the holes were where when I bought it at 95k, maybe back from when the head gasket blew (and had the v6 campaign replacement) back at 73k. The 5-minute epoxy is ok, but has a lower temp range. A few years ago I removed the stuff and put the better jen-weld stuff on it (24hr cure). At some point I also tried soldering it with a torch (figured I had nothing to lose), but was probably using propane instead of MAPP and didn't make a good seal.

I wouldn't suggest any of that in your case. But, if in the future you get a little leak, and want some options before you replace it, or are in the field, maybe it can help you. Mine has never leaked much....just enough to get a little antifreeze around the top of the radiator, which eats the paint off the radiator. Still, I've put around 80k on it, and it has never gotten worse....and when there's been a good epoxy seal, it's had no leaks at all.