Copper vs Aluminium Radiators

[Corbic]

So my radiator is starting to piss like a dog in heat and I'm trying to scrounge up a replacement before first snow.

We have $400 Mishumotos/Koyos, $100 eBays and $150 Koyo Coppers. I was always told Copper cools better than Aluminum but it's heavy and more expensive (per pound).

Is this article still true?

http://www.enginebasics.com/Advanced%20Engine%20Tuning/Cooling%20Data%20Comparison.html

It looks like the Copper one out and I'd expect the quality of a Koyo to exceed an eBay unit.

I'm currently running a Mech Fan and shroud, SR20, no heat issues. I'm just leaking water from this POS CXRacing Rad.


LINK FIXED

[Hashiriya415]

How about running a secondary radiator? Could be mounted front corner of bumper. Or in trunk with proper ducting. Or underneath trunk. Just something small and hook up to your heater lines. Should dissipate quiet some heat and balance the car a bit better, rather then making things worse with giant heavy radiators up front.

[Corbic]

How about running a secondary radiator? Could be mounted front corner of bumper. Or in trunk with proper ducting. Or underneath trunk. Just something small and hook up to your heater lines. Should dissipate quiet some heat and balance the car a bit better, rather then making things worse with giant heavy radiators up front.

Go fuck your self

[PrimeDirective]

Go fuck your self

bahahaha word.

Your link doesn't work for me, but, if you're not concerned about weight I would just go with the Koyo copper, especially if you are using the mechanical fan. Plus it's cheaper and gives that subtle OEM look.

A stock S14 radiator keeps my hot ass RB25 cool with the clutch fan so I can't imagine you having any issues.

[Carbomb]

copper oem nissan is best.
someone did a good review yrs ago.

lol @ 2nd rad

[ultimateforce]

Copper is harder to work with, that is the other reason why aftermarket radiators are aluminum.

[hOngsterr]

how about griffin ones, i heard those work really well but you have to pin down which one fit our motors.

[Hashiriya415]

Go fuck your self

No, I have no problems with my cooling, your having issues and I tried to help.
I just gave you ideas that you can do. Just because you haven't heard of relocating radiator and adding secondary rad, doesn't mean it's stupid idea. People are using it.

http://www.floridaracing.org/drifting/tertechmorosonopi/images/IMG_0010.jpg


Never saw a radi underneath the trunk? You just need extra $100 for all of this and no more cooling problems. Or you can buy your copper and mix with aluminum. Also some of the extra heat from bigger/copper radiator throws off, gets thrown back on the engine btw. Ever think of that? Or the holes that copper will be making in the aluminum? Unless you don't care long term.
I'm not saying don't do copper, its great and all. But there is other ways to setup cooling.

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r600/TwinTurboGSx/Fabrication/file.jpg

http://kereta.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/zele-rear-differential-oil-cooler-nissan-gt-r-11.jpg


Fuck it, just throw a giant fan on top and you'r all good.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.158.843.403/p843x403/58346_503146176362112_1922812726_n.jpg

[pogstar]

No, I have no problems with my cooling, your having issues and I tried to help.
I just gave you ideas that you can do. Just because you haven't heard of relocating radiator and adding secondary rad, doesn't mean it's stupid idea. People are using it.

http://www.floridaracing.org/drifting/tertechmorosonopi/images/IMG_0010.jpg


Never saw a radi underneath the trunk? You just need extra $100 for all of this and no more cooling problems. Or you can buy your copper and mix with aluminum. Also some of the extra heat from bigger/copper radiator throws off, gets thrown back on the engine btw. Ever think of that? Or the holes that copper will be making in the aluminum? Unless you don't care long term.
I'm not saying don't do copper, its great and all. But there is other ways to setup cooling.

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r600/TwinTurboGSx/Fabrication/file.jpg

http://kereta.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/zele-rear-differential-oil-cooler-nissan-gt-r-11.jpg


Fuck it, just throw a giant fan on top and you'r all good.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.158.843.403/p843x403/58346_503146176362112_1922812726_n.jpg

Ummm..he's not having cooling issues, his rad is leaking so he's looking for a replacement..

[jdm213]

copper just dessipates heat better ull have better cooling improvements just running distilled water in the copper rad but the aluminum oines look tyte

[Hashiriya415]

Oops my bad. I think I was reading something else about someone having cooling issues. I see now what OP wrote, it's totally different then what I was replying to. I thought he said he ran out of ideas on what to do and is thinking of upgrading to copper rad.

[blessedhellrider]

i was told a 67-69camaro/69-72nova griffen rad works great,for SR.
i have a $120 alum..works great for stock SR.

[irax]

Yes the material is more expensive per pound, but I don't know exactly how that would make them heavier. They might be using denser cores and fins and thats why it might be heavier. But copper will tarnish and lose its heat dissipation properties over time.


honestly go with $100 ebay radiator, time and time again the lower end aluminum radiators perform just as well as ones 3x the price.

Heck if you goto summitracing.com and you look up a radiator with the same dimensions as the one you are replacing you can often find a 3-4 inch thick one for about $150-250 depending. And that, when mated with a proper fan, will pretty much out perform most of your cooling needs.

[R33E8]

Yes the material is more expensive per pound, but I don't know exactly how that would make them heavier. They might be using denser cores and fins and thats why it might be heavier. But copper will tarnish and lose its heat dissipation properties over time.


1 cubic inch of copper weights more than 3 cubic inches of aluminium. That's why copper radiators weigh more..

[Corbic]

Oops my bad. I think I was reading something else about someone having cooling issues. I see now what OP wrote, it's totally different then what I was replying to. I thought he said he ran out of ideas on what to do and is thinking of upgrading to copper rad.

No problem. I'm snappy because I presumed you where just giving some BS answer.

It's cool.

[Corbic]

Yes the material is more expensive per pound, but I don't know exactly how that would make them heavier. They might be using denser cores and fins and thats why it might be heavier. But copper will tarnish and lose its heat dissipation properties over time.


honestly go with $100 ebay radiator, time and time again the lower end aluminum radiators perform just as well as ones 3x the price.

Heck if you goto summitracing.com and you look up a radiator with the same dimensions as the one you are replacing you can often find a 3-4 inch thick one for about $150-250 depending. And that, when mated with a proper fan, will pretty much out perform most of your cooling needs.


A copper Koyo is $150, and I would expect top notch quality. I currently have a $100 CX Racing rad which is leaking only 2 years latter (maybe 2,000 miles). That is why I hesitate on a new eBay unit. I know they cool just as well, as that has never been the issue. I'd just rather stop pouring water in the damn thing.


I'll check out Jegs. Jegs and Summit tend to offer some great bargin parts which much higher quality control standards then eBay.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Like already said, copper dissipates heat better than aluminum. The problem with copper radiator, and why not a lot more people run them, is they still run the plastic end tanks.

You thought about just getting your CX-Racing rad rewelded and plug the hole? Also, I got an ISIS SR rad that I dont need. I had to get a KA style rad for my RB swap...used it for about 2 yrs, never had any issue with it.

[duffman1278]

Copper is the better of the 2 in terms of thermal conductivity but of course at the expense of more money.

[S14DB]

copper just dessipates heat better ull have better cooling improvements just running distilled water in the copper rad but the aluminum oines look tyte
Copper radiator with distilled water with no inhibitors will not last long.

Why do people think plain water cools better than coolant? Because race car? Track cars can't run coolant as to not slick down the track if coolant is dumped on it.

[DreamN]

Mishimotos are $400 now? WTF?!

Curious, where are you leaking from? Just a bad weld job or did something rub on the radiator for a while? If the latter, I had a similar issue with a Mishimoto radiator where my shroud was loose and rubbed on one specific spot on the top tank to the point where it caused a nice 1/4"x1/8" slit. If that's the case just buy another cheap alum. one. Haven't had an issue with the free replacement they sent me either.

[brandonp33]

Go fuck your self

a little harsh

[greenwood]

Just bought my mishimoto for 240 shipped from frsport.com :boink: all firsthand Mishimoto's come with a righteous warranty

[zerodameaon]

Like already said, copper dissipates heat better than aluminum. The problem with copper radiator, and why not a lot more people run them, is they still run the plastic end tanks.


Not true, my copper Koyo is all metal with no plastic anywhere.

[Corbic]

Turns out water pump was leaking... Luckily I already had an OEM one layering around.

Then for the radiator....it was fine till I actually damaged it ugh...

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff467/AFZombie/E7042839-C8F6-446B-A872-245ADD357A83-38090-00000B428E3A6B2C.jpg


Soder for the win...

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff467/AFZombie/EFD1520B-4A97-4B86-ACAB-38770045271C-38090-00000B41CE854392.jpg

[S14DB]

What's Soder? I thought Radiators were brazed.

[zerodameaon]

Hope that holds up under running conditions. You stick a screwdriver through it or something?

[Corbic]

What's Soder? I thought Radiators were brazed.

It's the world Soldering with a missing l.

[Corbic]

Hope that holds up under running conditions. You stick a screwdriver through it or something?

Works for now... it leaks again, oh noes I have to spend $100 for a radiator.


Yea, I busted out the vents to make sure there was no other spot leaking.

[Kingtal0n]

I've never had any radiator that couldn't keep an SR20 cool in Florida while using the OEM clutch fan and shroud.

That said, I prefer radiators with solid hose outlets and metal end tanks. The OEM unit is great, but the plastic ends do not permit over tightening / tampering / high pressures.

I like Aluminum because the block is mostly aluminum, everything should be kept similar metals when possible to avoid problems with electrons.

In Florida I use 25% coolant 75% distilled water.