New radiator help?

I have a 2002 3.4 liter with the auto trans. My radiator has a small leak that has become slightly bigger but not a serious issue yet! I would like to know what is out there other than factory that you guys would recommend using? I have used rockauto before and was satisfied but if anyone knows of anything else that may be better let me know and thanks.



Now that I have your attention read the text up top lol

 

How many miles are on the truck?

You could try throwing in some Bars Radiator Stop Leak...Bars products are quality and I've had success with them every time

 

There is 185,000 miles on the truck right now. I may try that before I get a new one.

 

i have used 1800radiator.com a bunch of times with great sucess. cheap and super quick shipping too.

 

If your radiator is leaking and your using the factory transmission cooler I'd be concerned for your tranny.. They can leak coolant into the tranny cooler and blow it up pretty quick..

 

My truck didn't come with a tranny cooler.

 

I mean hey try a can or whatever. For 20-30 bucks if it works for 6 months it will save you the hassle of adding water/coolant and buying coolant. Just another option man! I mean obviously the correct way is to get a new radiator. But these products can work. I'd try it you got nothing to lose

 

You make a good point and I will for sure try it. I don't drive the truck that much anymore since I have my car for work. So even if it fixes it for a few months that will be perfect. I will start looking now though for a replacement so I will have it when it finally gets worse.

 

On my 98 3.4L i used the TYC 22 5/8" model and i havent had any issues thus far. Replaced it about 25,000 miles ago along with a new thermostat

 

Thanks man. I am writing all this down and will be looking at all my options over the next few days.

 

I recommend getting a new radiator. That stop leak stuff is nasty. Yes it does work on temporary fixing the leak. But the problem is that shit gets into the heater core and with it gummed up u wont get good heat through ur vents during winter. And then u will need to flush the heater core.

 

it does, from the factory. look at a small hose going to the bottom of the radiator.

dont use that stop leak crap. just think about it, if it can stop a leak it can clog lots of other crap in your engine.

 

Any recomendations on what kind to get?

 

I dont recommend any brand of stop leak. It does temporarily fix it but like i said could cause other problems. With the heater core.

If ur looking where to get a radiator. Never heard anything bad about rockauto (although i havent personally purchased from them...YET haha) but napa is also a good place to get parts. They usually know what there doing. Autozone people annoy me and gave me and my buddies the wrong parts many times haha

 

There are 3 sizes of radiators for our trucks. 4WD trucks will have the big radiator that measures around 22 inches, the pre-runners have one that measures 20 3/4 inches, and there is a small one that measures around 18 inches. I bought mine at Advance Auto online and picked up at store, you get 15% off getting it online and a $25 coupon a few weeks later. I would measure your radiator first. Measure from top to bottom from where the little fins start and stop. I paid $138 for the 20 inch radiator i think it was toughguard with a lifetime warranty. My truck has 345000 miles and was leaking.

 

Yea I noticed on rock auto that there was a few different sizes. I had no idea that the little hose at the bottom was for a tranny cooler. So how hard is this thing to flush, change out, and put all the fluids back in? I think I'll just go down to napa and get one. I've always had good luck with them too.

 

Changing a radiator isnt to bad. I did it for my one buddy on his s10.
U wont need to flush the heater core to replace the radiator. Unless when u drain the coolant its nasty brown and gooey haha.
if u do wanna flush it. It is easy u just need a safe spot to do it where no animals are gonna be around cuz coolant will be everywhere.

 

odd, when i bought my truck, 4wd 5 speed, it had a new radiator from the PO and it was too big, skid plate wouldn't go on. I had to buy a shorter one to fit so the skid plate would work.

OP, if you need the larger one send me a pm and I'll sell it to you cheap, it looks new.

just noticed you are in Kinder. i have family all around that area.

anyway, does anyone have a specific link that provides details on the different sizes?

 

It's built inside at the bottom of the radiator. You'll notice two lines coming out at the bottom. Those lines go into the transmission. Most folks are bypassing the factory cooler and adding an external cooler in fears of getting aft and radiator fluid mixed together....they call that strawberry milkshake of death. I haven't bypassed mine but I do run a secondary cooler along with my factory cooler.

 

Here for sweaty boobs. Carry on.