I am just curious. Can you guys share your experiences with aluminum radiators on a daily driven car. Im especially interested about how they hold up to the winter. I live in CT, and the new england winters are harsh and corrosive. (noting that most alum rad's only have a 1 or 1.5 yr warranty... I think this is important to know)

Thanks,
-a

 

What happens to aluminum rads on a daily driver???
um...nothing???

I've had mine for 2 years and it seems to be doing just fine

though I dont' drive mine in winter but I don't think it should be affected by winter

 

The stock radiator is aluminium with plastic end tanks, so I don't know why you're expecting anything different from a fully aluminium one.

 

a fully sluminium one is a huge upgrade from the stock unit, the stock one is a ticking timebomb here in texas in the summer. i have an all aluminum rad on both my 91 coupe and 91 vert, the vert has had it since like 1998 and its held up perfectly.

 

Sounds like he's concerned about salt and extreme cold.

 

it should be fine, salt wont effect it, but dunno about extreme cold. Frankly my 7 will be in a climate controlled garage again for this coming winter.

 

Exactly. I already have an upgraded brass unit. However, I have been going through one unit every 2 years due to corrosion, or just poor construction of the unit itself. Thankfully, the rad has a lifetime warranty, so replacing it has not been too much of an expence.

The winters here are tough on cars. The brass unit gets all sorts of green colored corosion on it where the cheap black coating has flaked off. The corrosion is also on the fins.

I just wanted to see how an aluminum unit holds up to similar weather conditions. As the warranties on those will not allow replacement like with the current unit...I am cautious about investing even more money.

 

Aluminum doesnt corrod like brass does. Thats why it is used for pop cans.

 

You should be fine, with an Aluminum rad. Doesn't really matter where you live.

 

I've driven my car for two winters now with a Koyo and it still looks new. You should be ok .

 

1 more vote for being ok. Aluminum doesn't rust or corrode. Get a nice thick koyo w/ the 52mm core.

 

oh sorry I didn't answer you question directly then.

If this is of any help...my car is stored during winter & it holds up to the cold just fine (at least I think it's fine, haven't taken a look but car runs fine)
and I'm talking about -10F for the lows