What's the word on radiators?

bigalpha

Moderator
Location
Tucson, AZ
Did some searching and seen a lot of discussion on radiators but I must have missed all the current chatter. I'll be in need of a replacement soonish. I live in AZ so it's hot and dusty. I know I could get a replacement on RockAuto but is there something that's leaps and bounds better?
 
In the past most have recommended the CFS 3 row from DPG. But it's rumored that at one time CFS stopped making them and then started back up again and they are not of the same quality.

I bought one about 8 years ago. Along with a Flowkooler water pump my running temps rarely go above 205... That said, mine developed a leak earlier this year. I sent it to a radiator shop for repair. Once I get back on the road, hopefully I can get another 8 years out of it.
 
The Summit radiator is the one that I have. Been running it 2 years, and had steady temps here in SC. Hottest it's gotten is 215* trail riding and the eFan kept it steady. Sad it's leaking now. Took a rock hit right at the edge of a tube/tank connection and drips a little. Since it's metal I can just pull it and take it to a shop for a weld!!
 
I have used the Spectra premium radiators on at least 2 or 3 cars in the last few years with no issues, usually around $ 80.00. I'll move up to the full metal one when and If these less expensive ones go out. so far so good. I dont go off road but do alot of snowy 4x4 driving in extreme low temps........
 
Running a Stock Radiator in mine. We have about the same temps as you do. I run around 195/200. Friend had one of them 3 row all aluminum rads, he got tired of it over heating and went back to a Stock rad. We both run during the day in the desert in the summer an we never over heat.

HTH
 
Dealer. Heavy duty, towing
Forgot the price but they was cheap to everybody else. My wifes jeep still has a POS aluminum in it and she over heats. I service my rads every 5 years. I take my cars to a rad shop.I'm not a pro an can't stand throwing money out the window with them Rad flushes
 
^^This one^^

It has worked better than anything else in our desert racer.

I'm going to get one of these (from summit) and have it on hand for the next XJ project that comes along.

There's no such thing as too much cooling capacity running the southwest, and these are even potentially repairable on the trail.
 
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