Notices
Tech / Misc Tech topics that don't seem to go elsewhere.

Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-24-2008, 04:12 AM
  #1  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
b20_driven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: WISH, WI, USA
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter?

A friend of mine told me that his aluminum radiator cracked on him last winter. How many of you out there drove your car thru the winter with an aluminum radiator? Any problems?
Old 10-24-2008, 12:18 PM
  #2  
Honda-Tech Member
 
Flashmn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Heinola, Finland
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter? (b20_driven)

99% of the new cars made come with alum radiators....
if he cracked it, possible he only had water in it, or a low coolant level which caused the radiator water to freeze... That could also mean problems for the block and head too.
Just make sure you have a 50-50 mix.
Old 10-24-2008, 12:37 PM
  #3  
Honda-Tech Member
 
srmofo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter? (b20_driven)

or he bought a cheapass ebay radiator and it inevitably failed
Old 10-24-2008, 04:43 PM
  #4  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
b20_driven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: WISH, WI, USA
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter? (srmofo)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by srmofo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">or he bought a cheapass ebay radiator and it inevitably failed</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, it was a cheap ebay radiator. ROFL. I got a mitshimoto radiator. So hopefully that works out better than his.
Old 10-24-2008, 07:45 PM
  #5  
Honda-Tech Member
 
batallic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Toronto, ontario, canada
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

water in a rad will make it crack
Old 10-24-2008, 08:47 PM
  #6  
Honda-Tech Member
 
srmofo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter? (b20_driven)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b20_driven &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yes, it was a cheap ebay radiator. ROFL. I got a mitshimoto radiator. So hopefully that works out better than his.</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats what I got right now and so far I am happy with it
Old 10-24-2008, 10:11 PM
  #7  
Honda-Tech Member
 
kay@neighborhoodtrends's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: garland
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter? (srmofo)

i have been running the ebay radiator for about 2 years in tx and no problems it was like $38 shipped lol
Old 10-25-2008, 05:29 AM
  #8  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
b20_driven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: WISH, WI, USA
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter? (kay@neighborhoodtrends)

Its good for you because you dont have below zero temps down there, bro.
Old 10-25-2008, 05:30 AM
  #9  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
b20_driven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: WISH, WI, USA
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter? (srmofo)

Even tho I dont plan on driving the car in the winter. I just hope it don't crack on me while I do some winter warmups.
Old 10-25-2008, 06:09 AM
  #10  
Honda-Tech Member
 
Flashmn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Heinola, Finland
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter? (b20_driven)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Its good for you because you dont have below zero temps down there, bro.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
and its all because of bad coolant mix... I've NEVER had a radiator crack during winter and OEM radiators have plastic end caps... Its not like the radiator gets hot coolant instantly, causing it to crack from thermal shock...
Old 10-25-2008, 01:35 PM
  #11  
Honda-Tech Member
 
srmofo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter? (Flashmn)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flashmn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
and its all because of bad coolant mix... I've NEVER had a radiator crack during winter and OEM radiators have plastic end caps... Its not like the radiator gets hot coolant instantly, causing it to crack from thermal shock...</TD></TR></TABLE>Bad welds with even worse material will crack from repeated heating/cooling cycles though
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
g230sport
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
6
05-14-2009 05:54 PM
hks369
Acura Integra
7
12-24-2006 12:43 PM
jonvo
Forced Induction
15
09-13-2006 11:21 PM
mike93boost
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
15
06-22-2006 12:50 AM
swpdb16
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
22
06-21-2004 12:22 PM



Quick Reply: Do aluminum radiators crack in the winter?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:21 PM.