Well I recently replaced my perfect working condition 92-up civic radiator with a Aluminum Performance (brand will be nameless) one. Well after a couple of days in my CRX with D16 w/apexi turbo one of the core sprung a leak between the cooling fins. I found this out because the temp needle rose above normal. I checked the coolant and was low 1/2 gallon. It was running with the cap that came with the $$$ aluminum rad. So I was like WTF? I never had a radiator got out on me that wasn't plastic. The car runs fine and boost is great. So I went to the MFR. and they swapped out a new one for me.
Well after a few days with my new radiator the guage started to climb so I pulled over and checked the fluid level. It was low 1/2 gallon. after a few more miles the radiator started to leak again. Now it is coming from mutiple places from the rad. Dang What the Hell is going on? All this time the reservior level was unchanged (full). I was having doubts on the rad especially the radiator cap. I think it isn't releasing the pressure once it reaches 15 psi.

So I pay a visit to the Rad mfr. and they said the reason the radiator blew up was because I had a head gasket leak. And we are sorry but your here is your radiator back. I was like oh you mean that Whenever someone has a blown headgasket there radiator will start leaking? they said yup. I was like WTF? why didn't the radiator cap prevent pressures over 15 to the point of blowing up radiators. And my car was and is still running and idling perfectly fine. I am not boosting 20+ psi only running the stock 5psi.

So now I need your opinion. Did I get screwed? I need to check if my headgasket is indeed blown. The car runs strong. Did the aluminum radiator blew my headgasket because the cap was bad? So Now I'm stuck with a $$$$ aluminum radiator ready to be recycled for .01. Have you heard or seen anyone that has a similar problem like mine? Is this common? I feel like the mfr took the cheap way out. Ineed your thoughts and experience. thanks all

 

Boost and Honda headgaskets have never been good buddys. More like annoyed neighbors that barely tolerate each other.

It's relatively simple/cheap to check for a blown head gasket...eliminate it as a possibility before you slam the manufacturer.
They did replace it once, no questions asked. You coming back again so soon indicates there's something up.

As the owner of a small hobby business, it was responsible not to mention any names until it all plays out.
I know a lot of stupid kids online that would say "Performance Company part number #4 sucks! Mine broke twice" and leave it at that desite the possibility their setup is to blame, not the product.

 

do a compression test. if it checks out ok. bring that to the rad guy and get your money back for the rad. Then go get that 5g rad back in there

 

that doesnt sound normal,find out whats causing your rad to leak..anything rubing against it?

 

This is a 5th gen in a 4th gen? how did you mount it?
If you use a solid mount, it can possibly cause it to crack.

I returned my 5th gen rad for a larger 4th gen after getting frustrated with the mounting options

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Keith P &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is a 5th gen in a 4th gen? how did you mount it?
If you use a solid mount, it can possibly cause it to crack.

I returned my 5th gen rad for a larger 4th gen after getting frustrated with the mounting options</TD></TR></TABLE>
It is mounted with the place racing x member. No rubs anywhere. leaks from within the cooling fins.

 

did you use the same (actual) radiator cap on both aluminum radiators, or did the new radiator come with a different cap?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by notfastenough &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did you use the same (actual) radiator cap on both aluminum radiators, or did the new radiator come with a different cap?</TD></TR></TABLE>
different caps but the mfr has had cap problems in the past.

 

very wierd,who makes that radiator,get a different one or test out some used ones