Radiator Repair/Cleaning

[Makdaddymac]

hey all,
with the high cost of good replacement radiator i was wondering what people think or have done with the radiators that leak or get too corroded. My rad. needs more than a flush job its needs to be professionally cleaned or replaced.
i have called around and have been priced 60-80 bucks to have my radiator cleaned all up good as new?
what do you guys think about this? a crummy 1 core plastic tank radiator at auto zone is 95+ bucks. or should i spring for the extra bucks....

 

[stykthyn]

I've had nothing but bad luck with the vatozone radiators. I would spend the 60-80 now and save for a quality radiator down the road.

 

[Shaolin Crane]

is yours leaking?

 

[Makdaddymac]

mine is not leaking just seriously corroded, i've tried flushing it multiple times with mildly better results and im trying to get rid of a overheating problem that is from a combo of bad fan clutch and a very poor functioning radiator...i think im going to have it cleaned...

honestly the stock rad is not the best but def better than a lot of over the shelf parts store rads. which i prob would replace it with....i'm going to have mine cleaned...

 

[Mustang5L5]

I dunno..i've had an Autozone 3-core rad in my Mustang for 10 years now. My car stays ice cold.

IIRC, the rad was actually manufactured by a pretty well known rad manufacturer. I forget who though. I think i paid about $150 for it back in the day

 

[Grn92LX]

They don't make that 3 core anymore. I had that in my 92LX and it worked mint. It was made by go-dan industries.

Ford motorsport makes a nice aluminum 3 core replacement or you can do the parts store cheap stuff which is usually lifetime warranty.

 

[Shaolin Crane]

mine is not leaking just seriously corroded, i've tried flushing it multiple times with mildly better results and im trying to get rid of a overheating problem that is from a combo of bad fan clutch and a very poor functioning radiator...i think im going to have it cleaned...

honestly the stock rad is not the best but def better than a lot of over the shelf parts store rads. which i prob would replace it with....i'm going to have mine cleaned...

hmmm i dunno if you have access to it, but mildy diluted sulfuric acid would make quick work of it, we have it here at the shop and it worked great for cleaning the rust and other sht out of mine

 

[Makdaddymac]

yeah my logic was that the auto zone rad has a lifetime warranty, but mine will last a long time as well so idk....

 

[90mustangGT]

Just spring for a quality new unit. Spend all that money cleaning it and all and end up with a radiator that I bet will start leaking if not right after the cleaning, soon after that.

Some say that white vinagar will clean it out?

So the Go-Dan 3 core isn't made anymore? That royally sucks, I had one, was just like the factory one but thicker, made a huge difference. I would see if they have the "police edition" mustang radiator as that what it was called at pep-boys a few years back.

 

[Makdaddymac]

yeah i guess, but quality is 200-250 bucks.....i guess i can do an autozone'r it will get the job done, and its not like im some majorly modded mustang......