Aluminium vs brass/copper radiator

[nutwood]

You're quite right Madhatr, dissimilar metals everywhere. No wonder warranties are avoided on the basis of "stray currents". I suppose I'm a bit surprised that there hasn't been a clear standard of installation produced by anyone. No wonder some guys are reporting years of success whilst others talk of rapid failure.
It's a bit funny this thread happening when it has. Yes, I am aware of how tiny 30mV is. I've spent the last week tracking down a 2 micro amp current loop loss in a data logging system. That's 0.2 mV across a 100 ohm shunt. I really, really wish it was 30 mV!!!

[matty12]

the warrantys are void because its not the manufacturing process which has failed it,something external has.

[Turbo 351]

the warrantys are void because its not the manufacturing process which has failed it,something external has.

Why then do some alloy radiators last a long period with no problems, and others die very quickly in exactly the same car?

[10sec rx7]

the warrantys are void because its not the manufacturing process which has failed it,something external has.

you sound like you work for PWR.. even when it is clear that the core has failed from a shit job they blame stray currents.. even on late model cars that have alloy from the factory...

[matty12]

No i run a radiator shop, and see this sort of stuff all the time and know what is accepted as a warranty claim or not.I personally dont have to many core failure return to me unless someone fitted it them self but i make sure the person buying knows exactly what is required to make the thing last.

What PWR Does i cant comment on,maybe using that as an excuse i dont know.

At the end of the day,if you pull one out that "failed" if the thing is full of shit, has white powder through the fittings(chemical corrosion) blacked in the internal of the rad(stray current) how could it not be.If it was installed correctly and every thing was hunky dory the rad would be clean inside and it would be a simple mannufacturing fault which is what warranty covers.

Of course quality also plays in.If you think a ally rad that you bought of ebay for $150 big ones and expect it to last as long as a koyo/calsonic/denso you are also kidding yourself.

[nutwood]

What about a radiator that's clean inside but has a pin prick hole eaten straight through it?

[10sec rx7]

No i run a radiator shop, and see this sort of stuff all the time and know what is accepted as a warranty claim or not.I personally dont have to many core failure return to me unless someone fitted it them self but i make sure the person buying knows exactly what is required to make the thing last.

What PWR Does i cant comment on,maybe using that as an excuse i dont know.

At the end of the day,if you pull one out that "failed" if the thing is full of shit, has white powder through the fittings(chemical corrosion) blacked in the internal of the rad(stray current) how could it not be.If it was installed correctly and every thing was hunky dory the rad would be clean inside and it would be a simple mannufacturing fault which is what warranty covers.

Of course quality also plays in.If you think a ally rad that you bought of ebay for $150 big ones and expect it to last as long as a koyo/calsonic/denso you are also kidding yourself.

totally understand where you are coming from.. but when a $1000 PWR unit that lasted 3 months is replaced with a $150 ACE chinese shitter and its lasted 3 years and still going stong you have to wounder...

[matty12]

yeah, i can see thats a problem.I know some shops around me wont even look at it if theres a leak in the core and its a "not my problem" answer which is bull shit because there are faults even in the best rads that atleast require a look at.

We check before and after we fit one(stray current),you dont want the same thing happening twice,its annoying for me and the customer.I find it does pay to do it this way as you can then let the customer know that there could be a problem and get it sussed before it fucked again.