I never understood this, it seems it would make them a lot less durable than all metal radiators, as it can crack. I recently had to replace mine because the tank cracked. Anyome know the answer?
Why do car radiators have plastic tanks?
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I hate all metal radiator and will never install one again. Fool me twice.... well.... you can't.
The precision on plastic is much easier to control than metal tank welded together. My metal tank has horrible fit for fan mount and radiator cap. How long it last depends on who made them. A poorly made metal tank can crack rather than corroded, just like a poorly made plastic tank can crack.
I got a radiator from radiatorbarn and it said Harrison on the website, and got a CSF copper instead. I returned them immediately and get a plastic one locally.
The precision on plastic is much easier to control than metal tank welded together. My metal tank has horrible fit for fan mount and radiator cap. How long it last depends on who made them. A poorly made metal tank can crack rather than corroded, just like a poorly made plastic tank can crack.
I got a radiator from radiatorbarn and it said Harrison on the website, and got a CSF copper instead. I returned them immediately and get a plastic one locally.
I remember a letter to Smokey Yunick one time a long time ago.
"Smokey, why do they supply cars with $1 jacks ?"
Smokey's reply "because they ran out of 50c jacks."
If they could make the tanks out of paper mache, rest assured that they would.
"Smokey, why do they supply cars with $1 jacks ?"
Smokey's reply "because they ran out of 50c jacks."
If they could make the tanks out of paper mache, rest assured that they would.
Low price explains plastic junk on radiators. It also further explains why metal flanges, diverts, housings and intake passages are also plastic junk.
It also ensures the dealer parts department more sales, so long as someone doesn't make a superior aftermarket product.
It also ensures the dealer parts department more sales, so long as someone doesn't make a superior aftermarket product.
Weight and cost to build are the 2 main reasons.
They usually fail around 10 years old,well beyond the intended life of the vehicle.Be thankful you don't own a BMW,practically everything in the cooling system is plastic....and fails.
Silk, nastiest plastic thing I recall is that stupid water "manifold" across the back of the Camira engine (and Camira engined Nissan Pulsars).
Thing always leaks, gets overtightened, stops, leaks again, gets overtightened...then the shrunk bit cracks and bingo...no water.
Thing always leaks, gets overtightened, stops, leaks again, gets overtightened...then the shrunk bit cracks and bingo...no water.
Got a BMW don't get me started. And our 1990 Ford Telstar Ghia hatchback (a Mazda 626 badge engineered by Ford) had a plastic tank topped radiator as did my Mazda 626 Turbo (GT) which I still have. Both developed minute cracks which weeped coolant necessitating top tank replacement in both. All metal now as it should have been all along IMO.
Plastic radiator tanks are cheap junk. I've replaced 3 radiators on my 89 Dodge Caravan and I see some seepage on the current one, (about 4 years old).
Also replaced one on my sons 94 Acclaim, and wifes 00 GC.
Mopar rads are throwaways, non-repairable.
Also replaced one on my sons 94 Acclaim, and wifes 00 GC.
Mopar rads are throwaways, non-repairable.
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The plastic is a manufacturing evolution. Like most it reduces costs in manufacturing, but allegedly brings some benefit to the deal. The plastic tanks are stronger, but I haven't seen that translated into the total radiator being more "durable". I've never had a metal tank section require a repair ..ever. I've had cores take a dump ..but never the tanks. OTOH, EVERY plastic/alum mating has 100% managed to leak at the crimped seams if kept in service long enough. The move to aluminum, although having superior heat dissipation properties, has higher corrosive issues that need to be tended to in terms of more "care". The industry has responded with more sophisticated coolants ..that also have their own liabilities that appear to achieve longevity in service ..with vulnerability when upset (open to air).
It's the old F16 vs. Mig25. Sure it's better ..but one requires a 1000 tertiary tap dancing crew working in harmony to stay in the air (if you don't get a leak and spoil your coolant --blah..blah..blah) ..the other stone knives and bear skins.
It's the old F16 vs. Mig25. Sure it's better ..but one requires a 1000 tertiary tap dancing crew working in harmony to stay in the air (if you don't get a leak and spoil your coolant --blah..blah..blah) ..the other stone knives and bear skins.
plastic is much easier to manufacture and easier to modify the design. as usual, done correctly it is probably a superior product but after value engineering it is not so superior.
Originally Posted By: tom slick
plastic is much easier to manufacture and easier to modify the design. as usual, done correctly it is probably a superior product but after value engineering it is not so superior.
Value engineering: A process used to engineer the value out of a product.
plastic is much easier to manufacture and easier to modify the design. as usual, done correctly it is probably a superior product but after value engineering it is not so superior.
Value engineering: A process used to engineer the value out of a product.
Quote:
Value engineering: A process used to engineer the value out of a product.
You got that right!
Value engineering: A process used to engineer the value out of a product.
You got that right!
plastic is cheaper.
Yet, with all this "cheap" plastic, cars last longer than ever. And more reliably.
The material isn't the issue, the design is.
The material isn't the issue, the design is.
259,000km. on my original Cherokee plastic rad with no signs of leaking yet
I had a custom-fabbed, TIG-welded SS rad for the Ecotec 2.2 swap I had planned for the car, but I'm selling it sometime next month. No more eco-swap (or Sunfire) for me anymore (kid on the way!)
Well, some of the plastic parts last 15 years, other times they last around 5 years.
I see brass radiators last longer than that... Too bad brass is so much more expensive.
I see brass radiators last longer than that... Too bad brass is so much more expensive.
Originally Posted By: firemachine69
I had a custom-fabbed, TIG-welded SS rad for the Ecotec 2.2 swap I had planned for the car, but I'm selling it sometime next month. No more eco-swap (or Sunfire) for me anymore (kid on the way!)
Why stainless steel? it has terrible thermal properties.
I had a custom-fabbed, TIG-welded SS rad for the Ecotec 2.2 swap I had planned for the car, but I'm selling it sometime next month. No more eco-swap (or Sunfire) for me anymore (kid on the way!)
Why stainless steel? it has terrible thermal properties.
In the quality days of the automobile "a long long time ago" the radiatore were heavy guage brass .New brass radiators are paper thin brass . Thin brass, cheap plastic where is the quality.
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