Hi peeps... is anyone running an aftermarket copper core radiator? If so how have you got on with it, and what material are the end tanks made from??

Just curious of any possible advantages over alloy...

CheeRS for any input

 

What cars it for?

Don't forget copper has far better thermal properties compared to alloy

 

This is my point Safechav ... I`m trying to help a friend spec a big hp RS turbo and the rad was a point that was mentioned.. The area where I`m coming unstuck is, what material should the end tanks be made from and what process should be used to join it all together??

Any ideas?

CheeRS

 

Well........i mean my cabriolet as it stands, is standard. But even a lot of the standard ones are prone to overheating, let alone highly tuned ones, i myself run a standard copper radiator with plastic end takes, and it runs so cool its unreal, and yes i have a thermostat for those about to shoot me down

Christian, of APT, also runs a standard item like mine, and we all know his is officially the fastest CVH RST in the world

If you wanted a copper rad im sure you could get a custom one made with copper end tanks too........

 

I know Christian`s car well and that he has always run standard rads.. Just thinking out of the box a bit, re: an alternative aftermarket item, and would it dissipate better than alloy? I`m under the impression that the standard Ford rads use an epoxy glue to hold the fins in? Is this right, because in these cases often the glue used is a good heat insulator so the rad won`t cool too well.. Also from what I`ve read copper cored rads are soldered together, and the main constituent of solder is lead, and lead is a terrible heat conductor.. ?

I`m just trying to work out if it`s viable to get ( in one way or another ) an after market copper core ( super effiecient ) rad made up???

Or am I just wasting my time?

CheeRS

 

You have a good point! I do remember seeing some form of glue holding the fins on.

But.....i had mine recored, and i saw the core before it was fitted and it looked good quality to me, i didnt look in that much detail though, but all i do know is the car runs incredibly cool, drive along at 10mph and the needle sits right down (fat chance of that when i have the front mount in though )

Ive not used an alloy rads so i cant really comment on them too much

Does he have any issues now with cooling?

 

He`s now running a pro alloy front mount so the engine temp has gone up a few degrees ( standard rad at the mo, but is far from new ).... I used to run a GRS alloy rad on mine with good results and this was perfectly up to the job for me ( as i think it would be for my mate )... but as I said I`m just trying to gauge views on the copper theory really as you said yourself its thermal properties are superior to alloy, but the stumbling block I feel is how to construct it? ... And would it be cheaper to build than an alloy one etc ....

 

I dont think plastic end tanks make much difference to cooling to be honest, a very small surface area compared to the core.

If you've had a good experience with the alloy rads then it could be a worth a try.

My mate RSDaz off here had a S2 with a alloy rad, and i think that used to run quite warm, im not convinced myself they make a fantastic difference