Need new radiator....OEM or Aftermarket?

[iceman601]

My 97 4Runner has close to 150k miles and my radiator just took a crap on me yesterday, luckly I caught this just after it happened. I took it out to get lunch and kept it out of boost, water temp and everything was normal. Question is should I replace this with an OEM one (roughly $250) or an aftermarket one such as Koyo? ($150)

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/rad01.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/rad02.jpg

[troyboy162]

might be a great time for an upgrade. if you went with the aftermarket oil cooler you wouldn't have to worry about the fluids mixing. if you get an aftermarket radiator maybe you can find one that dosnt hang so low and improve your approach angle.

of course i have no idea what to buy to do this and its only useful if you wheel alot

[MTL_4runner]

Whatever you replace it with, just make sure the new one has the same or greater number of cores as the OEM version.
Personally I'd just go OEM for the replacement.

[iceman601]

Thanks guys.....I picked up the OEM one from Rafa at Northridge who had it in stock :thumbup:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/rad03.jpg

[Bob98SR5]

good choice. for something as important as engine cooling, stick with oem

[iceman601]

I had time to tackle it today....just thought I share some pics of the old one which still looks to be in good shape.

A little dirty
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/TRD%20sc/rad03.jpg

Crack from the front outside
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/TRD%20sc/outside-crack.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/TRD%20sc/opened.jpg

Crack from the inside
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/TRD%20sc/inside-crack.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/TRD%20sc/core02.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/TRD%20sc/core01.jpg

[DHC6twinotter]

Sounds like the 3rd gen radiators are way cheaper than the 2nd gen's. I replaced my radiator a couple months ago, and the guys at Toyota told me they were very expensive. They never gave me an exact price, but it was in the neighborhood of 700 or so. I ended up with an aftermarket one for around 150.

I'm going to be bummed if I find out an OEM for my 2nd gen one would have cost 250. :(

[Obi..]

Sorry you had to deal with this but at least now there is someone else who can explain why I said what I said in Mike's thread: http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=6063.msg78723;topicseen#new

[MTL_4runner]

Wow that radiator is still in excellent shape except for the crack.
That core may be worth something to a radiaor shop, may want to ask.

[Obi..]

Wow that radiator is still in excellent shape except for the crack.
That core may be worth something to a radiaor shop, may want to ask.


Exactly! Take it to a shop and have them either cap that one after a rod and flush or have them make a template and fab you a good one w/o all the plastic. :D Besides, that aluminum although used to be worth around $10-15.00 nowadays is worth maybe $6.00 .

I've left a message w/ a good friend and also mentioned this thread just now to Rafa. I'll chime back in if you guys want if I hear of options. Basically the good friend's said, yeah, all I need to do is order one up with the correct design dimensions and tubing, then fab the side plates up and they'd be set. Long story short what I am getting at is some are lucky if they don't heavily wheel/explore and get years out of a plastic capped system, others like a couple friends who regularly wheel Dusy and Rubicon, are lucky to get 2 years worth before even small cracks appear.

[slosurfer]

Sorry you had to deal with this but at least now there is someone else who can explain why I said what I said in Mike's thread: http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=6063.msg78723;topicseen#new


What does this have to do with the skid plates. Looks like it cracked on top, not on the bottom from getting smacked? :headscratch: