Aluminum Radiator

Vegas99D1

Well-known member
May 5, 2009
187
9
Plano, TX
Is anyone using a replacement aluminum radiator? I replaced the original LR radiator back in 2008 with a NISSIN one, and it's about time to change it once again (small leak). I was looking on eBay and found an all aluminum one for a decent price, supposed to be all TIG welded and the best part, no plastic ends!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-1999-...ne:4.0L+3950CC+V8+GAS+OHV+Naturally+Aspirated

What do you guys think? If you have an aluminum radiator, what brand is it and how has it been holding up?
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
If you have some spare quid, you can get an Allisport radiator from the U.K., but
if you do get one from them, you won't have any spare quid left.
Probably the best replacement you can get though.
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
Is anyone using a replacement aluminum radiator? I replaced the original LR radiator back in 2008 with a NISSIN one, and it's about time to change it once again (small leak). I was looking on eBay and found an all aluminum one for a decent price, supposed to be all TIG welded and the best part, no plastic ends!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-1999-For-Land-Rover-Discovery-4-0L-V8-and-Series-1-3-9L-V8-87-98-Radiator/173042127573?hash=item284a1d52d5:g:CagAAOSwYxBaOhid&fits=Year:1999|Model:Discovery|Submodel:SD|Engine+-+Liter_Display:4.0L|Make:Land+Rover|Trim:SD+Sport+Utility+4-Door|Engine:4.0L+3950CC+V8+GAS+OHV+Naturally+Aspirated

What do you guys think? If you have an aluminum radiator, what brand is it and how has it been holding up?
Seems like you should buy it. You can spend $600+ on a new one from AB with metal tanks(still probably not genuine) that might last 20 years. You can buy a new Genuine Land Rover one from LRDirect for $1200! Or you can spend $230 on an aluminum one that might last 10-15 years(maybe more?). No modern vehicles have stupid expensive radiators. Nobody recores radiators anymore. When it leaks you drop $100-200 on a new one and go about your business.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
I had the same idea for my D1 and the radiator I received was incompatible with my truck (wrong fittings) despite the assurances of the seller. I returned it and got my money back, but it was a disappointment and a PITA. Hopefully my experience was an exception. If you purchase this please report back on your results.
 

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
838
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La Jolla, CA
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I have two of these plastic-tanks aluminum radiators in my trucks now. They do offer better cooling capacity than the stock copper units; and for the price of recoring my old radiator I can have TWO fully-welded aluminum radiators from eBay.

Good or bad?
One of these plastic-tank jobs drip a drop every now and then. Enough to get me worried on a few trips, but it does not progress.
I am more worried about not being able to repair the aluminum unit compared to the copper.
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
Better cooling capacity than stock copper units? From plastic tanked knock-offs? Are they thicker with more tubes or ?
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
No, the tubes are made of Aluminum. Or Aluminium, if you like. For the same dimensions they do offer better cooling capacity.

Replacing a factory original radiator with a new one, regardless of material, will be an improvement. Anything that came stock with a D1/D2/P38 is not operating anything close to optimal performance at this point.

I installed an aluminum radiator in my D1 as part of a cooling system overhaul a couple years ago before a big trip. In triple-digit ambient temps, driving up several thousand foot ascents at 6,000 feet elevation with a laden truck in low range many days in a row my coolant temps never topped 94 C. With a new water pump, fan clutch, thermostat, and radiator I have peace of mind...for now.
 

Vegas99D1

Well-known member
May 5, 2009
187
9
Plano, TX
The main issue I'm having is when idling, the truck will get very hot. Luckily, I've been keeping an eye on the temp gauge and shut it down before it gets to the red zone on the temp gauge.

I'm having this issue even though I've already replaced the water pump, fan clutch, thermostat, and the heads were done about 7-9k miles ago.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
The main issue I'm having is when idling, the truck will get very hot. Luckily, I've been keeping an eye on the temp gauge and shut it down before it gets to the red zone on the temp gauge.

This may not be news to you, but don't put too much faith in that gauge. It's not linear, it's basically a 3-state readout:
1. you're cold
2. you're fine
3. you're fucked

If you connect a live data reader you may be surprised to see how much the engine temperature can fluctuate without any movement on the dash gauge. I've seen engines reach pretty warm temps while the gauge needle was dead center. Investing in a code/data reader or Bluetooth dongle & app that allows you to monitor your vehicle sensors through your phone will give you a lot more information than the dash does. With the prices on the tech so low there's no reason not to have one.
 
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nickb857

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2004
1,388
3
38
Las Vegas

pdxrovermech

Well-known member
Jul 3, 2009
1,807
57
Portland, OR
The main issue I'm having is when idling, the truck will get very hot. Luckily, I've been keeping an eye on the temp gauge and shut it down before it gets to the red zone on the temp gauge.

I'm having this issue even though I've already replaced the water pump, fan clutch, thermostat, and the heads were done about 7-9k miles ago.
Are the condensor fans coming on?
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
Yes, the condenser fans kick on fine. I'm thinking that besides the small leak, that the radiator is probably corroded inside but a cursory look in the filler hole, all looks clean.

Probably another fine product from the PRC. You can pay for PRC junk from the Middle Kingdom and take your chances or pay a decent vendor from a decent country. JMO.
 

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
838
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
Probably another fine product from the PRC.
Not all products from PRC are necessarily bad.
Even discounting consumer electronics - which is nearly entirely made in China.
I once went on a limb and bought a set of Chinese made LT tires - they ended up better, rounder, better-balancing, and longer-lasting than all BFGoodrich products I've owned in the last 15 years.
 

braves6117

Well-known member
Completely accurate. Ran in the Mojave desert, CA with SCLR several times, engine at 222-229F* vianscanguage and stock temp gauge at normal (with new thermostat , ect)




This may not be news to you, but don't put too much faith in that gauge. It's not linear, it's basically a 3-state readout:
1. you're cold
2. you're fine
3. you're fucked

If you connect a live data reader you may be surprised to see how much the engine temperature can fluctuate without any movement on the dash gauge. I've seen engines reach pretty warm temps while the gauge needle was dead center. Investing in a code/data reader or Bluetooth dongle & app that allows you to monitor your vehicle sensors through your phone will give you a lot more information than the dash does. With the prices on the tech so low there's no reason not to have one.
 
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p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
838
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
Completely accurate. Ran in the Mojave desert, CA with SCLR several times, engine at 222-229F* vianscanguage and stock temp gauge at normal (with new thermostat , ect)
There's an interesting fix to make temperature gauge much more linear - but you'll be watching the gauge instead of the road if you do that :)
 
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pinkytoe69

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2012
1,689
182
minnesota
There's an interesting fix to make temperature gauge much more linear

tenor.gif
 
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