Cheap Radiator Comparison & Radiator Horror Stories

Like the title says I'm looking to get a cheap radiator to keep my current engine cool on my first gen. The one I have is leaking coolant out of the top (not the cap) and I'd like to drive it around at least to the gas station and car wash if not take it for a spin once in awhile. I'm rebuilding an engine for it so once I'm done I'll install an oem rad which is only $30 or less more than the big 3 parts stores in my neck of the woods. I'll keep the cheap one for a backup.

Here's the options for now with the 22 5/8" between tanks measurement (barring any good 4th of July sales that I haven't found out about yet).

Autozone with a 20% off ship to home plus $10 dollar gift card putting it at $139 with taxes:

http://www.autozone.com/cart/cart.jsp?_requestid=1663855

Pepboys with a $47 discount bringing it to $122

https://www.pepboys.com/parts/belts_hoses_water_pumps_cooling/radiators/01664/1998/TOYOTA%20TRUCK/TACOMA%20PICKUP/0/V6-3378%203.4L%20DOHC

O'Reilly's is not doing so well with only a free shipping promotion which leaves it at full price basically:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/s...year=1998&make=Toyota&model=Tacoma&vi=5014126

I'm thinking of going Pepboys unless someone pipes up in defense of one of the other two being way better than Pepboys. Any thoughts? I for sure don't want to install an oem right now and run the risk of breaking it or clogging it up from schmootz from my current engine which is only going to be in there temporarily. Thank you!

 

Any of those will be fine. Actually probably better than what was original.

My ,
'98 had 4 radiators and non were from the same place. They all fit perfectly.

I consider rads to be replaceable items. They are so cheap, they are great insurance to keeping your truck running good for a long time.

 

I think when I looked them up a few months ago and they were all under $100 - I was pretty surprised at the increase since then. I figure having a back up around won't be a bad idea - like you said I agree they're going to be replaced periodically. This truck is on it's 2nd in 20 years at 10 years a piece so hopefully the next one will be needed in about the same amount of time.

An oem is only $185: https://parts.conicellitoyotaofcons...oling-system-cat/radiator-and-components-scat

 

I've been driving for25 years, replaced 1 radiator I accidentally hit with a sawzall. What are you doing that requires multiple replacement radiator?

 

A factory rad is $201 it seems like a no brainer to spend the extra couple of bucks. A close second would be the Denso from CockAuto

 

TYC makes a good cheapo rad. 85 to the door

 

Offroading out in the middle of nowhere is why I want a backup as well as what I mentioned in the first post. I'm looking for something I can get in the next couple of days and install quickly.

 

The 1st was leaking at the seam between the tank and core, that one was original. The next 2 died from trauma. Deer and wild Turkey. 4th was removed from the truck when the frame rusted in 2 @ 300,000 miles and now resides in my present '04

 

I like my All Copper and Brass one .

I took a good OEM one out to install it.

To bad your across the country I would give it to you.

 

We always had spares of common parts in the club runs, you would be the first radiator you'll need a few gallons of coolant with you as well but if you're planning on a trail swap I'd run something non toxic instead.

The only thing more expensive than buying the right part the first time is buying the right part the 2nd time. If there is only a few dollar difference between oem and aftermarket I'd just buy oem and be done. The 1 rad I have had to change, aftermarket was a lot less, and it was going on my $200 tacoma. I started that as a cheap truck and kept the trend going.

 

I put a Denso in my truck about 4 months ago from rockauto.com, free shipping and I think it cost around $129

 

I had one aluminum Radiator fail in the back country never again .

Sure it was a Freak one of a kind thing the tank cracked .

This was back when Aluminum Radiators were thought to be the hot thing Young and easily impressed .

So all the newer epoxies were years away If I could have got it clean enough to bond

Since that time my Trusty Propane Torch flux and solder have fixed a few.

Since I tend to travel in well watered country finding water is not a problem

 

I mentioned I just want to get my truck driving without losing coolant and in the meantime I'll be ordering an oem one for my new engine. I'd rather have the knock off take a chance at getting something lodged in it from my current 20 year old engine and potentially have something happen to it (I'll still be careful) during the engine swap while my good one sits in its box waiting to be installed with the new engine.

As far as trail swapping if it cracks and epoxy won't fix it, I travel with at least double the amount of water I plan on drinking out in the desert so I could dilute a bottle of concentrate with some distilled water I'll bring with me for both potential purposes. Sometimes it can be ~100 miles to the nearest well stocked part store in the areas I like to go visit (with little to no cell service sometimes) so limping that far on a leaking rad wouldn't be enjoyable or practical.

For both of these reasons and a radiator being an shape that's easy to tuck away in storage while I'm not on vacation, I don't mind the extra $200 or less for a new radiator and some coolant, plus it will give me some experience installing a radiator before I install one on the engine I'm building so it'll be one less thing that I'll be doing for the first time, even if it's pretty a straightforward and simple process. Experience is at least a confidence builder. The reasoning I have for buying a spare not be important for some, for me it seemed worth it especially if I can get one on sale.

 

factory is a Harrison. Nothing special. Remember these trucks weren't made in Japan. Plenty of factory stuff is 'meh'.

 

I've never had the "pink milkshake" from any of the after market rads.

 

I have a Spectrum from Pepboys in mine. I replaced the OEM (with similar leak as yours) a few years ago. No issues at all. Just got back from a 5000+ mile trip with a lot of climbing (Rockies) and desert (Utah, NM) driving. The truck barely went above the halfway mark on the temperature gauge.

 

Any is fine. Just always try to replace the cap with a known brand one, use toyota pink coolant and wash out the overflow tank.

 

They weren't made in China either.

 

I've had one from napa for a few years now, probably 30,000 on it, which includes a summer cross country trip through death valley, Arizona, Utah etc. Even living down here I haven't had a problem with cooling.

 

Where are 'factory' ones made nowadays? Lots of things have changed origin in the last 15-20 yrs.