yeah I got a CSF radiator, and despite the bad things I've heard, right now I just want a radiator that doesn't spray coolant out onto my exhaust mani heat shield and make a big stink and a mess. If it only last 2 months I'll probably call them up and try to get them to replace it, but if not, I'm not too worried about it. In a couple of months I will have started my full time job with an architecture firm so I'll be able to afford something nicer later on if I need to.

But if it works for a good long time, that will be good too.

So my question is, what about the ATF cooler fittings on the bottom of the radiator? Normally only ATF flows through there, so do I need to plug or cap off those fittings or anything, or can I just leave them open?

 

I just bought a cheapo radiator and was faced with the same problem. I just ran a hose between the two fittings with some clamps, it works fine. I'm not sure if fluid even runs though the hose or not, but I decided to run the hose instead of chance dumping a gallon of coolant out of the bottom of my radiator. Hose plus two clamps is like $2.00, i played it safe.

 

hmm I didn't think of that... on cars w/ auto tranny, does coolant run thru the tranny via the 2 tubes, or does ATF run thru the radiator via those 2 tubes?

 

atf runs thru the radiator to cool the atf. so you dont have to worry about nothing just plug the holes to prevent oxidation.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sickstyle83 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">atf runs thru the radiator to cool the atf. so you dont have to worry about nothing just plug the holes to prevent oxidation.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ah gotcha thanks. Can I go ahead and install the radiator tomorrow morning (before my engine gets hot) and then get the hose and clamps later on that day and install it?

 

it's a good day's work. at least mine was. I got the csf with the plastic tanks. My problem was getting the damn hoses to come loose. yours might not be as old as mine was.

 

Well I flushed my radiator not too long ago, it definitely wasn't an all-day job.

 

I just installed a aftermarket copper/brass brazed rad. I just left the cooler lines open, should be fine since any water from the outside will just evaporate off.

Helms says to remove the rad and fans as 1 piece, I found it easier to remove the fans before removing the rad. Also verify that the fans will mount up properly...LS and GSR's have different fans. Be sure that they sent you a GSR rad.

You'll probably need some new hose clamps... the aftermarket rad waterfittings are not exactly the same size as the stock rad so your spring type clamps might not hold. Get some screw type hose clamps.

Have fun!!

 

Hey Patrick, if you don't mind, take some pics of your install, and of the ATF connections after you put the hoses on them. I'm probably going to order my radiator from dicountradiator.com also. Thanks in advance.

 

Just leave the ATF cooler fittings along. Nothing goes in, nothing comes out. It's seperate from the main core. Maybe you can use it as an oil cooler or something.

 

My car already has an oil cooler stock.

I installed the new radiator yesterday, everything fit in perfectly, no problems. It appears that the radiator has places for any fan to bolt up, be it GS-R or LS. I took the fans off the old radiator before pulling the old one out, but then I bolted the fans onto the new radiator before putting it back in the car, and then dropped it in as one piece.

The only issue I had really is that the overflow hose fit looser than than it did on the old radiator, even with the little clamp in place. All the other hoses and clamps fit perfectly, though. I'll get some pics up later.

 

Awesome. It's good to hear the install went smoothly. Hope these radiators last...

 

I have the same problem now. I replace my radiator abot 2 months ago and i ran the ATF through the cooler. But now is leaking again because for some reason the bolt stripped that goes in to the cooler. Now we all saying is we could by pass the ATF cooler and hook the 2 ATF hose up without a problem??

 

I wouldn't recommend simply bypassing the cooler by attaching the send and return lines together. ATF in an automatic transmission also serves to cool the tranny so if you take away that capacity, you'll ruin the properties of the fluid, and then the tranny itself will be damaged =&gt; big $$$...

If you spring a leak, you can easily by a tranny cooler at Pep Boys, and place that in front of the radiator, RV style...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by foxfai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have the same problem now. I replace my radiator abot 2 months ago and i ran the ATF through the cooler. But now is leaking again because for some reason the bolt stripped that goes in to the cooler. Now we all saying is we could by pass the ATF cooler and hook the 2 ATF hose up without a problem??
</TD></TR></TABLE>

What I was talking about is for manual tranny Integras, the radiator from CSF is made to be used on either manual or auto tranny vehicles.

Here's some pics:




^^^Notice the fan bolt holes right next to each other, I guess the fans on auto tranny Integras are slightly different and use those other holes. Everything went right in and bolted up perfectly.

Here's my old radiator, I still couldn't find where it was leaking from, though. This is the side facing forward, right behind the A/C condensor.


Now here's a question, the old radiator had these 2 rubber strips (the 2 vertical pieces in the pic) down each side of the radiator, pointing towards the A/C condensor, and a foam rubber strip across the top plastic tank between the tank and the top of the radiator support, like an insulator I guess:


The 2 rubber strips were glued onto the radiator in this position:


Should I try to put those onto my new radiator? The top two radiator brackets seem to hold it in place pretty well and keep it from hitting the top of the radiator support. The 2 rubber strips were on the edges of the radiator, facing forwards. The A/C condensor also has 2 rubber strips, facing backwards (towards the gap between the radiator and the condensor). Of course the radiator is a little wider than the condensor. Any thoughts? Does the radiator need to have those rubber strips?

 

bump

 

seems like the 2 rubber thing is just to control the flow of the air from just the front instead at the side pulling it in.

 

What's a CSF radiator?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dom93hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What's a CSF radiator?</TD></TR></TABLE>

its the brand name....

btw, Patrick, i hope u have better luck with that radiator i did with mine
about the oil cooler, i did the same thing suggested above with the hose and also, i left those rubber strips with my old radiator

 

bump, back to life

Just wanted to tell you all that my radiator is still fine, no leaks or anything. Go me!

just did that because of the orecent radiator thread on here, and when I went searching through old posts and found this one, so I thought I would update everybody.

 

Mine has been in for 4 months and is still going on strong

 

Just from seeing the top view and the brackets for the radiator fans, that CSF radiator looks 100x better than the one they sent me. Maybe it is luck of the draw

 

i've been rocking a CSF radiator for 2-3 yrs now. There's a wholesale CSF dealer 5 minutes from my house, and anytime any of my friends need a radiator, we get them from there. Never any problem on any of them.

O yea.. mine was for a civic, dual core and twice as thick as an OEM civic.

 

how ironic, i was just doing the same job yesterday but also did the hoses and thermo and installed a front motor mount insert while it was all out of my 92 teg. had the same question but my radiator came with screw type caps for the holes where the ATF would flow. just slapped some rtv on the caps just in case and for piece of mind.

btw patrick, thats a lot of **** in front of your old radiator, DAMN!!!!

 

not to bash on csf..but after 2 months, my radiator is now leaking. i have the "all aluminum" model. no install error, no accidents, nothing that could've caused it to leak. i'll give them a call on monday.