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Which radiator material is better???
- Thread starter 92xjdean
- Start date
Blaine B.
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Northwest Indiana
Aluminum is better for conducting heat.
However just take whatever has metal tanks, heh!
However just take whatever has metal tanks, heh!
89xj said:
Yeah, research usually ends up with me being more confused than before. You usually read pros and cons of both. I figure those that take the time to reply, VOLUNTARILY, will usually have a strong opinion, one way or the other. But hey, thanks for taking the time to reply and add absolutely nothing to my question, much appreciated!
Original_MudButt
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- In the eighth dimension
I have heard that alum radiators run slightly hotter than Cu..... But there is a weight savings, so somewhat of a trade off......
Racers I think, tend to favor weight savings over a slightly hotter engine. Most racers run aux. oil coolers for the engine and trans that will help take up the difference......
But I dont know of any raceer who is looking to get 200k out of a motor...
Just my opinion, but I think you made the right choice.
Racers I think, tend to favor weight savings over a slightly hotter engine. Most racers run aux. oil coolers for the engine and trans that will help take up the difference......
But I dont know of any raceer who is looking to get 200k out of a motor...
Just my opinion, but I think you made the right choice.
Interesting reading, they say copper/brass offers better cooling:
http://www.copper.org/innovations/2000/03/cuprobraze.html
http://www.copper.org/innovations/2000/03/cuprobraze.html
oldradiostuff
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- California
My tendency would probably be to buy a brass/copper rad, mainly because I'm a bit of a traditionalist. I strongly suspect that if you take care of your cooling system properly, installing either a brass or aluminum radiator isn't going to be the deciding factor in how long your engine lasts, so I wouldn't feel bad about buying either one.
bigdaddyjlove
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Atalanta
copper is a better conducter of heat than aluminum. Aluminum is lighter, stronger, and cheaper.
however, most high performance radiator manufacturers use aluminum, so you can buy a better built rad made of the stuff than you could out of copper.
however, most high performance radiator manufacturers use aluminum, so you can buy a better built rad made of the stuff than you could out of copper.
Hellbent
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- san diego, california
bigdaddyjlove said:
yep.
copper brass/will transfer heat more effectively, but because of the strength vs. weight properties of aluminum you can build an overall more effective radiator out of al-u-min-i-um.
Real world experience. After my upper rad hose blew I decided to get on top of my XJ cooling problem once and for all. And let me be clear - I admit that my cooling problem was not a design issue, it was a maintenance issue. Mine is a 90 ltd with the closed cooling system.
I wanted and ordered an all metal rad (copper/brass) just for the durability. The idea of plastic end tanks on a rad sounds totally retarded to me, especially considering the heat cycling of a rad. Anyway, they f'd up and got me an alum and plastic - I took it anyway and installed. At the same time I replaced all hoses, water pump and t stat, and I removed the mech clutch and installed a Taurus electric.
Fact is that I rarely turn on my electric fan unless off road. even in town temp creeps up slightly at stop lights, then comes back down as soon as I start to move. Gauge usually shows right around 100C. On the highway, pulling about 90-100kmh temp is not an issue at all, even hauling up hills as long as I can maintain the speed.
Now maybe I would have had the same results with an all metal rad but I am sold on the heat dissipating properties of the alum
I wanted and ordered an all metal rad (copper/brass) just for the durability. The idea of plastic end tanks on a rad sounds totally retarded to me, especially considering the heat cycling of a rad. Anyway, they f'd up and got me an alum and plastic - I took it anyway and installed. At the same time I replaced all hoses, water pump and t stat, and I removed the mech clutch and installed a Taurus electric.
Fact is that I rarely turn on my electric fan unless off road. even in town temp creeps up slightly at stop lights, then comes back down as soon as I start to move. Gauge usually shows right around 100C. On the highway, pulling about 90-100kmh temp is not an issue at all, even hauling up hills as long as I can maintain the speed.
Now maybe I would have had the same results with an all metal rad but I am sold on the heat dissipating properties of the alum
Hellbent
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- san diego, california
i felt the same about the plastic tanks. when i replaced a leaky radiator i went to an all metal three row unit. that one died when the fan clutch ate a hole through it(got a little crazy on a hill climb and broke a tranny mount). the only thing i could find readily available was a two row "high efficiency" aluminum/plastic unit from, i believe, modine. the aluminum unit has run consistently cooler under all conditions. the jeep was happy even in the middle of the desert as a friend's wj overhead temp display read 122*.
Muad'Dib
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bend, Oregon
fuzzydog said:
I also have an Aluminum radiator (purchased from NAPA) with basically the same set-up in my 90 Laredo. Same results. It works well for me, and i never need my Taurus fan unless i'm sitting for long periods of time, towing, or off-roading.
I can however see a Copper core dissipating heat a lot better.. so i'm sure they will both be just fine.
yellowta
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Baton Rouge
Muad'Dib said:
I've got the same results with a taurus fan on my stock radiator.... but then again I've got one of those possesed 4 bangers with lots of room between the radiator and the engine.
Blaine B.
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Northwest Indiana
Ah, I bought a RadiatorBarn radiator too. All metal CSF, 3 core.
I didn't know it's copper, all I cared about was that it was all metal, and had a good reputation for durability! Their warranty is awesome as well.
I didn't know it's copper, all I cared about was that it was all metal, and had a good reputation for durability! Their warranty is awesome as well.
yellowta said:
After much reading about the differences between the two, brass/copper vs. aluminum I am convinced aluminum radiators are lighter and will cool better......I canceled my order for the brass/copper one and ordered an all aluminum one......thanks for all of your input!
- Location
- Lafayette, CA
What convinced you that aluminum is better?
- Location
- Roanoke VA
92xjdean said:
I have bought 5 of their 3 core brass/copper rads and have had no issues other than shipping damage to the cap seat on one. Very good radiators for the price.
