Any comment/experience with cheap aluminum radiators from Ebay

Hi Guys,

I´m thinking about the possibility to replace my OEM radiator (GU TB45 Automatic from 98) for one of those you can find in Ebay.

They look really promising, but I have some doubts on them. They are 3 core, bigger and thicker than OEM and they say that are 30%-40% more effective than the standard one.
The only think is that they are made in China (like practically everything nowadays...).

For 200 dollars even less and sometimes including delivery costs, I would like to know if someone here have had any experience and would endorse them.

any comment will be more than welcome,

Thanks in advance,

Hi,

Had thought about one of those alloy jobbies when replacing hoses and water pump.
If you read the fine print on some of them, look for the ones that are fully brazed, no resin used, especially for the cores/end/top tank fixing.
Need to make sure that they have the mountings to suit your fan shroud also.
If it was me, and considering its an auto, I would be looking at manual radiators and an external oil cooler.
Also, some have from 1 to 2 year warranties, so worth looking at a few of them and not the cheapest couple.
In the end, I ended up getting my radiator recored, new top tank, and it cost me $160, same day service because I didn't want to wait.
I have bought and used ebay radiators in other cars I have owned, because I could afford to wait the week to get them, and I still have one in a car I have now, all of which were around $170 including shipping, and no complaints at all. Fit fine, no issues. Would do it again if needed.

Hope there's some useful info there.

Evo

Mate this subject has been covered in length with much debate... do a search and work out whats right for you.

I personally will not buy one of those crap things and stick with my brass copper one (about $350)... and if I was to get another I would get a custom brass copper one for about $600-$700....

Thanks guys for your comments!!

I´ll do a little bit more of research.

Cheers

Can you point me in the direction of brass copper ones?

EBay is full of aluminium ones.

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Originally Posted by Bloodyaussie

Mate this subject has been covered in length with much debate... do a search and work out whats right for you.

I personally will not buy one of those crap things and stick with my brass copper one (about $350)... and if I was to get another I would get a custom brass copper one for about $600-$700....

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OEM one is thin alloy with plastic tanks...
Only found full alloy replacements, never copper core.

Evo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Evo

OEM one is thin alloy with plastic tanks...
Only found full alloy replacements, never copper core.

Evo

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Have a look at the radiator catalogue here, page 321:

www.ashdown-ingram.com.au

also if ali tank is not insulated from body you will get electrolices and will eat out radiator within 6 months

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Evo

OEM one is thin alloy with plastic tanks...
Only found full alloy replacements, never copper core.

Evo

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Where are you looking... ebay???

I bought mine through a shop.. can deal with radiator specialist and get one ordered in.

I have seen copper brass ones on ebay some time ago but have not looked for awhile.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by my third 256

also if ali tank is not insulated from body you will get electrolices and will eat out radiator within 6 months

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It needs to be earthed to the body to help try and stop stray electric currents also if you really want an ally rad you need to use a 50/50 mix of coolant suited to alluminum blocks for example the coolant used for the holden 5.7ltr gen3 v8.


Apart from not being serviceable i recommend to my friends and customers to steer clear from ally rads. The better brands like Adrad and PWR offer a 3 year warranty because they are better quality in construction and design.


To the OP If your current OEM rad done the job why do you want to go to a bigger core for??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Drewboyaus

Have a look at the radiator catalogue here, page 321:

www.ashdown-ingram.com.au

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Thanks.

Those OEX are an overseas made radiator too.
Price doesn't necessarily mean quality, just local supplier markup.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bloodyaussie

Where are you looking... ebay???

I bought mine through a shop.. can deal with radiator specialist and get one ordered in.

I have seen copper brass ones on ebay some time ago but have not looked for awhile.

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Not just ebay, but a couple of outlets.

What's the difference in all these radiators? Whether plastic tank, copper core, alloy, they are all overseas made, and only inspected or tested here before sale. Like most things really.

As for copper or alloy, either one is not impervious to stone strikes or a wayward stick/branch out in the scrub. Would rather get a cheaper one with similar warranty, cheaper to replace or have fixed.
The coolant for the alloy radiators would be the same he is using now as he would have an alloy head anyway.
Electrolysis shouldn't happen anyway because the radiators should have insulating grommets, or plastic, where the radiator fixes into the support panel.
Even the more expensive alloy radiators (PWR, Desert cooler, etc) aren't any better than the overseas/cheap ones.
The issues they had was the tanks and cores were joined using epoxys and resins, rather than being brazed (same as copper core) which they are doing now.
The alloy one I was looking at for my TB45 was around $200 to my door with a 2 year 40000km warranty. The more expensive brands, one of which I had quoted, was around the $800 with 2 year 50000km warranty.
Even if the copper custom one is around $600-$700, I'm guessing similar warranty, you could buy 3 alloy ones and get 6 years motoring (if they were to fail at the 2 year or km interval), which in the long run would make more sense to me as it's a small outlay to get going for at least 2 years, and not have to empty the wallet.
I can't say bad things about these cheap radiators, because I've had years of good ones, an not one fault. Have had one now in a V8 for over 3 years.

@ Anaurath
As Alitis007 asked, is your standard radiator giving you trouble? Or what is the reason for wanting to change from standard?

Sorry if I seemed narky, not meant to be.
Just how I see things.

Cheers

Evo