Imo000

Got one of the "Racing" all aluminium ones on my hand with only 6K miles (little over 2 years old) that has a leaking core, right where the core meets the end tank. About 4 rows are leaking, top driver side (overflow port corner), facing the engine. Everything indicates that it has to be a manufacturing defect as there are no signs of damage. Anyone had problems like this?

928er

do you know who made it?

GregBBRD

I think the correct question is:

"Is there anyone that hasn't had a leaking all aluminum radiator, yet?"

And BTW...I think to get a more accurate description of the current all aluminum radiators, you probably should substitute "used car lot" where "racing" is used..

I started to figure out how to make a "decent" all aluminum radiator, for these cars....but a "high quality" core that will last as long as a Behr core lasts costs more than any of the current aluminum radiators, made by any of the suppliers, retails for.....just the bare core. More!

Add in a couple of "high quality" oil coolers and a "long lasting" (last as long as a stock Behr) all aluminum radiator is suddenly 2K.

And that is why I don't have an aluminum radiator to sell.

When people are trying to get a $50,000 car to function for $5000, cheap trumps long lasting every time.

Speedtoys

Yup. My all alum one started leaking about 6mo after purchase lower-right, on the back side..in that godforsaken corner of core and end tank...as well.

But..do I have 3wks to not have car to drive for warranty..nope..so stop leak it is, until I can afford the time to get it repaired locally.


I dont believe that the cores that the current units have are insufficient for street use, just that someone raised the arc and left a thin spot in welding that were all suffering from...Id bet.

dfrhodes

My Devek one just started leaking last month. I used to laugh quietly at all the 'my poor leaky devek radiator' threads, but here I am. I got 10yrs out of it though.

dave r.

Imo000

It's a C&R unit.

SeanR

Mines been sitting in my shed for 4 years. It is a Devek that started to leak 3 years after being installed by the po. Put a rebuilt Behr in and have no worries. I have not seen an advantage to the aluminum ones......yet.

hacker-pschorr

Yup
That is why Todd uses the original core and adds his own aluminum side tanks.

Imo000

Thanks, I wish everyone else was as honset as you.

Imo000

I still have this car owner's original (cracked end tank) radiator sitting in the back of my garage and starting to heavily lean towards having the end tanks replaced and put the original rad back in. I'm going to have to discuss this with the car's owner as I don't have any confendence in repairing the aluminium core in any way that can last.

The car is here for a WP/TB replacement. The pump started to leak in the summer and the the manageble leak, in a short time, became a major leak. I have a feeling that when the rad started leaking, is when the leak became a gusher. Sort of a 1-2 punch. This is the only thing that makes sense to me as the core leak is not a weep but a good sized leak.

Rob M Budd

This was several years ago on my 80 928.
I bought a new Ron Davis all aluminum that leaked from day one. Ron Davis company said to use stop leak.
That didn't work. No warranty on it since it was considered a "racing" radiator.
Sent it to Ron Davis for repair & paid $135. It came back with 2 more leaks than it had before. They refunded the repair cost but not the shipping.

Leaks were where the core is welded to the side tanks. Had three other shops look at it. All said it couldn't be fixed.

I finally trashed it and had a copper one custom made for the 928.
Lesson learned. I'll never get another all aluminum radiator.

Randy V

Ooo - a racing radiator!

Rob M Budd

Yeah, at the time I remember wondering if he was saying that with a straight face. What an asshat!

danglerb

What exactly do you suppose makes a radiator a racing radiator?

Pressure is limited by the cap same as a street car. Extreme duty I suspect is sitting in slow moving traffic with the AC on.

Speedtoys

Oh come now.

Are people _really_ being shamed for not paying $2000 for a new OEM radiator?

Yes, the full alum one is about a grand easy...but a corvette Z06 radiator is exactly $379.19. ($247.29 for the 6spd version)

And they don't complain..I tracked the living hell out of my Z06, and it -never- had a cooling problem.

Although I cooked a # of 6spd boxes...until I put in the auto rad and ran cooling lines to it.

Ya..mine leaks..so have others. But you're not gonna make me feel like a cheap SOB for paying 400% more than the OEM radiator is _worth_.

Same story with $500 motor mounts.


Although, I respect the opinions of others..they aint doing nothing wrong by making a different decision with their money.