Re: Plastic vs. aluminum radiator
 

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
news:eIadnQ1aYvOQiZ3YnZ2dnUVZ_t2dnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
> Michael Pardee wrote:
> > "Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
> > news:Xns9836DC4506536jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.83.. .
> >> The part you miss is that the radiator itself expands and contracts,and
> >> the
> >> plastic tanks may not stay sealed to the aluminum core,nor is ordinary
> >> road
> >> shock and vibration healthy for the plastic/metal seals.
> >>
> > The only plastic tank radiator I've had apart was on our '85 Volvo. The
> > tanks were crimped on and sealed with big honkin' O rings. That tank
> > failed when the hot coolant from the upper radiator hose eroded
> > through the plastic - the Volvo gurus tell me that is the common
> > way they fail. My favorite radiator shop replaced the upper tank
> > with a metal one made for a Chevy radiator.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> do they know about corrosion of dissimilar metals? unless the tank is
> the same alloy as the rad, there's going to be trouble.

This will probably be all right if he follows a reasonable coolant change
schedule. There is a voltmeter test you can do too, to see whether
electrolytes are building up. Basically, that tells you whether it is too
late or not. ;^)

Earle

Re: Plastic vs. aluminum radiator
 

Earle Horton wrote:
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
> news:eIadnQ1aYvOQiZ3YnZ2dnUVZ_t2dnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>> Michael Pardee wrote:
>>> "Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
>>> news:Xns9836DC4506536jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.83.. .
>>>> The part you miss is that the radiator itself expands and contracts,and
>>>> the
>>>> plastic tanks may not stay sealed to the aluminum core,nor is ordinary
>>>> road
>>>> shock and vibration healthy for the plastic/metal seals.
>>>>
>>> The only plastic tank radiator I've had apart was on our '85 Volvo. The
>>> tanks were crimped on and sealed with big honkin' O rings. That tank
>>> failed when the hot coolant from the upper radiator hose eroded
>>> through the plastic - the Volvo gurus tell me that is the common
>>> way they fail. My favorite radiator shop replaced the upper tank
>>> with a metal one made for a Chevy radiator.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>>>
>> do they know about corrosion of dissimilar metals? unless the tank is
>> the same alloy as the rad, there's going to be trouble.
>
> This will probably be all right if he follows a reasonable coolant change
> schedule.

right, for stuff /inside/ the rad, but not the stuff outside!

> There is a voltmeter test you can do too, to see whether
> electrolytes are building up. Basically, that tells you whether it is too
> late or not. ;^)
>
> Earle
>
>

Re: Plastic vs. aluminum radiator
 

Earle Horton wrote:
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
> news:eIadnQ1aYvOQiZ3YnZ2dnUVZ_t2dnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>> Michael Pardee wrote:
>>> "Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
>>> news:Xns9836DC4506536jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.83.. .
>>>> The part you miss is that the radiator itself expands and contracts,and
>>>> the
>>>> plastic tanks may not stay sealed to the aluminum core,nor is ordinary
>>>> road
>>>> shock and vibration healthy for the plastic/metal seals.
>>>>
>>> The only plastic tank radiator I've had apart was on our '85 Volvo. The
>>> tanks were crimped on and sealed with big honkin' O rings. That tank
>>> failed when the hot coolant from the upper radiator hose eroded
>>> through the plastic - the Volvo gurus tell me that is the common
>>> way they fail. My favorite radiator shop replaced the upper tank
>>> with a metal one made for a Chevy radiator.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>>>
>> do they know about corrosion of dissimilar metals? unless the tank is
>> the same alloy as the rad, there's going to be trouble.
>
> This will probably be all right if he follows a reasonable coolant change
> schedule.

right, for stuff /inside/ the rad, but not the stuff outside!

> There is a voltmeter test you can do too, to see whether
> electrolytes are building up. Basically, that tells you whether it is too
> late or not. ;^)
>
> Earle
>
>

Re: Plastic vs. aluminum radiator
 

Earle Horton wrote:
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
> news:eIadnQ1aYvOQiZ3YnZ2dnUVZ_t2dnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>> Michael Pardee wrote:
>>> "Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
>>> news:Xns9836DC4506536jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.83.. .
>>>> The part you miss is that the radiator itself expands and contracts,and
>>>> the
>>>> plastic tanks may not stay sealed to the aluminum core,nor is ordinary
>>>> road
>>>> shock and vibration healthy for the plastic/metal seals.
>>>>
>>> The only plastic tank radiator I've had apart was on our '85 Volvo. The
>>> tanks were crimped on and sealed with big honkin' O rings. That tank
>>> failed when the hot coolant from the upper radiator hose eroded
>>> through the plastic - the Volvo gurus tell me that is the common
>>> way they fail. My favorite radiator shop replaced the upper tank
>>> with a metal one made for a Chevy radiator.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>>>
>> do they know about corrosion of dissimilar metals? unless the tank is
>> the same alloy as the rad, there's going to be trouble.
>
> This will probably be all right if he follows a reasonable coolant change
> schedule.

right, for stuff /inside/ the rad, but not the stuff outside!

> There is a voltmeter test you can do too, to see whether
> electrolytes are building up. Basically, that tells you whether it is too
> late or not. ;^)
>
> Earle
>
>