Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2023 14:45:11 -0700
Reply-To: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Radiator disappointment
In-Reply-To: <CANEuo0gMXXvXpUbdN6vxUkzLkeOd_busTVFesonoyNz8=Bju+Q@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Yup,, What Ken said,,, & I’ll add > When You are in control of the situation ~
> On 22 Feb , 2023, at 10:06 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>
> They are a wear item. I would plan on it sooner rather than later.
>
> Ken
>
> On Wed, Feb 22, 2023, 12:01 PM John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Good to know.
>>
>> My van is a 91 Carat with 250 k on the radiator. Any time now it could go
>> but I have had no trouble yet.
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 8:41 AM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
>> kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>> The Behr units are gone and aren't coming back. I have people call me or
>>> email all the time asking for them. Please stop asking, they are gone.
>>>
>>> However, there is an aftermarket option that we sell which is a copy of
>>> the
>>> Behr unit that is made in Taiwan. That is the one I sell and recommend at
>>> this point.
>>> I haven't had any issues or failures with them so far. I have been
>>> selling
>>> them for about three years now. Here is a link to it:
>>> https://www.vanagain.com/product/vanagon-radiator
>>>
>>> Let me know if you have any other questions.
>>>
>>> Ken
>>>
>>> On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 9:18 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> A failure of the tank to core seal is a very common problem with this
>>>> radiator design. Same for the heater cores. I often wonder how much
>>> money
>>>> and weight is really saved by this design and no way is it a unique
>>> failure
>>>> for the vanagon. What is rare is the passenger side tank assembly has
>>> both
>>>> the feed and return and a common failure is for a crack to develop
>>> inside
>>>> and also coolant to flow from one to the other and not actually travel
>>>> through the core. Some radiators also have transmission and engine oil
>>>> coolers as part of these tanks. These side tanks and seals can also be
>>>> damaged by excessive temperature and pressure or steam flashing. This
>>>> failure can be a symptom of something else being wrong.
>>>>
>>>> As for radiator brands for year the Behr unit that was probably supplied
>>>> for Vanagons still being built in South Africa was the unit of choice.
>>> The
>>>> Behr "Service" units were actually made in China and al the ones I have
>>>> seen had a different core design, round tubes instead of the oval tubes.
>>>> Similar to what was used in many early water cooled VWs. This round
>>> tube
>>>> core radiator has noticeably less cooling capacity especially when using
>>>> air conditioning. I have one in Fun Bus and it just doesn’t work well in
>>>> hot weather with AC.
>>>>
>>>> Lately I have been using units branded Spectra. This is what you have in
>>>> your 85. I have had a few fail on install, usually pin hole core leaks.
>>>> They perform as well as the OEM and are usually readily available. As
>>> for
>>>> longevity have not seen any failures except for those immediately on
>>>> install. As for warranty that will be up to the supplier.
>>>>
>>>> While we like to think that once a radiator is a long life item it often
>>>> is not. There are many variables that can cause failure. Radiators used
>>> to
>>>> be very expensive and there was an industry built up to repair them.
>>> This
>>>> is till common for trucks and industrial equipment. My motorhome needed
>>> a
>>>> radiator at around 60K and that was an $1,800 plus 25 hours install and
>>> 20
>>>> gallons of coolant event. Our 2012 Jetta had a radiator replaced while
>>> the
>>>> car was still under warranty. My 91 now needs another heater core. These
>>>> things failing is just part of the vehicle ownership experience!
>>>>
>>>> Dennis
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
>>> Eric
>>>> Caron
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:28 PM
>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>> Subject: Radiator disappointment
>>>>
>>>> Well folks, I’d love your recommendations for a new radiator.
>>>>
>>>> My 84 seemed60 to have a leaky hose but it wasn’t. It is the radiator
>>>> itself leaking along the seam where plastic and metal come together. A
>>>> drip every 3 seconds or so under pressure.
>>>>
>>>> Radiator is just 3 years old with 16,000 miles on it.
>>>>
>>>> I’d love to hear your thoughts on where I might get one that has a
>>> better
>>>> chance of lasting. I don’t know the brand of this one.
>>>>
>>>> Tips greatly appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Thanks,
>>> Ken Wilford
>>> John 3:16
>>> www.vanagain.com
>>>
>>
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