When you click this link be prepared for a long story about why Radiator reporter says that 34 in cross flow radiator is junk!

http://www.radiatorreporter.com/crosflow.html

Only reason I bring it up is that I have had to exchange my radiator every year, for the last 4 years....is anyone else having this issue?

Thanks

Mark

Yeah, I've replaced 2 radiators in the last 3-1/2 years.:( I tow heavy now and again, otherwise drive my truck pretty gently.

Thanks for the link. Good article, but not good news.

What kind are you guys getting?

First one was from GM, 500 plus dollars...didnt last one year, no warranty.
J Mac radiator in Salt Lake has saved my ***...warrantied the last three. Heavy duty radiators too. But if the radiator is really that bad..and Im guessing there are millions of these out there, including the Dmax trucks, why are there not at more issues being reported?

My Original Rad in my '92 lasted 8 years & the replacement aluminum installed in '99 has been in ever since!!

How come we haven't heard about this around here? Sounds like horsesh1t to me.:rolleyes:

May be more of a problem on the coasts, or where the roads are salted - the rad is raw uncoated aluminum.

First I've heard of it, tho.

Most common problem is the aero-dynamic design of the '88-up trucks, where leaves and junk force-collects between the heat exhangers - rad, condenser, oil coolers.

That would cause some thermal stress on the tank\core interface under any circumstance - it's called 'overheating'.

Primary thing to look for in a replacement - make sure the core row tubing is as wide as the oem version.

Replacements are usually constructed with narrower tubing per row, presenting more header surface to flow, with less cooling surface per row - result is more head pressure, reduced flow.

Less surface area per row + less flow thru the rows = less thermal radiating capacity - and that is cause for concern.

Hard to believe it's as wide spread as they say, I'd guess Ford & Dodge sales must be slow so they are rerunning this 1999 article, and when I searched for it, all results go back to this one article. -:t

did not mention checking coolant acidity/base, if Ph out of wack will eat up radiator. did not recommend flush/neutralize. have seen blocks with salt like residue in core passages of blocks. did you use filtered or distilled water, chlorine in tap water can spike acidity. 7 years is pretty far back also.

The rad in my 98 is still there, no problems.