Re: Alloy Rad, lower temp fan switch

garndi on Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:34 pm

gtpswift wrote:well im not convinced.
aluminium actually absorbs heat at a slower rate then copper its dissipation is slightly better but absorption vs dissipation co-oefficient is arguably worse , it is lighter and stronger and as such the tubes can be bigger sizes without risk of balooning, which increases the cooling capacity but the experience rule of thumb is an alloy radiator needs to be 30 percent larger than a copper core, which in turn has more water to fill it which is no bad thing but in turn this is heavier. a cheap aluminium radiator may only have friction fit fins, rendering them only 30-50 percent efficient at heat transfer (the fin is a secondary cooling device its the bar which contributes the most) where as the expensive ones are have furnace fused fin and bar construction aiding in heat transfer.
as for the finish of radiators black is ther most efficient, most OEM radiators are black not alloy silver, another reason why aftermarket radiators etc are larger than necessary to overcome the inneficiencies for the sake of fashion.
Alloy can also suffer higher corrosion co-eficiencies especially in applications with alloy engines...interesting
Alloy has its place no doubt, but at a cost. The debate will rage Im guessing here int he UK with cool summers a cheapo aftermarket alloy radiator will work OK

GTP

What he said ^

I have seen alloy radiator cores 'balooning' so I don't think there that strong or maybe it was just yumcha crap.

I don't think there all that for cooling either, but they 100% look the part in today's fashion market.

dominator on Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:07 pm

gtpswift wrote:Standard dash gauge?
anything else change since last winter?
is the thermostat stuck open?

GTP

Std dials, thermo worked fine when I did the last flush
The only difference is I put some new vacuum tubes in and around the inlet mani, but I cant see that making a difference

gtpswift on Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:12 pm

Only thing I can think of is the thermo is stuck open and its not letting it get a chance to warm the water before flowing into the radiator. or the gauge has malfunctioned. grab youself a thermometer and shove it in the radiator opening and test for sure what temps the gauge is reading.
air in the system might fool the sensor but its not that common to have air bubbles that big...but you never know

GTP

Almondo74 on Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:33 pm

i took the thermostat out of mine and it still gets warm in about 10 miles.
i want an ally rad for looks but i dont want cooling issues at the same time :/
but id fit a better fan with more pull

garndi on Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:56 pm

Almondo74 wrote:i took the thermostat out of mine and it still gets warm in about 10 miles.
i want an ally rad for looks but i dont want cooling issues at the same time :/
but id fit a better fan with more pull

Be careful... The fan is really important, most issues are due to fitting (pure sh!t) aftermarket fans that claim their the t!ts. They just don't pull/push the volume of air that a standard fan can.

Can't go past standard car fans!.

InstantCustard on Fri Nov 11, 2011 5:41 am

An alloy rad is better than a cheap steel rad, a copper cored rad is better than an alloy rad.
Simples.

dominator on Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:21 am

gtpswift wrote:Only thing I can think of is the thermo is stuck open and its not letting it get a chance to warm the water before flowing into the radiator. or the gauge has malfunctioned. grab youself a thermometer and shove it in the radiator opening and test for sure what temps the gauge is reading.
air in the system might fool the sensor but its not that common to have air bubbles that big...but you never know

GTP

Then your as confused as I am gtp, I drove her into work today and it was fine, I doubt itl be the same on the way back

Almondo74 on Fri Nov 11, 2011 5:55 pm

Be careful... The fan is really important, most issues are due to fitting (pure sh!t) aftermarket fans that claim their the t!ts. They just don't pull/push the volume of air that a standard fan can.

Can't go past standard car fans!. [/quote]

i cant say that my fans even came on in ages but i avoid sitting in traffic with the engine running, i only ever drive it at night and the roads are quiet down here.

i found the cfm of a standard rad ages ago cant remember now, but id only buy 1 that was higher.

gtpswift on Sat Nov 12, 2011 7:51 am

If by CFM you mean the cooling capacity of the radiator (nornmally measured in watts) I have found it very difficult to get this information out or aftermarket radiator manufacturers, I need a seriously uprated radiator for the escort race car with water cooled turbo in australia. somthing they just dont know, If you meant CFM of the fan then ignore this post.

GTP

Almondo74 on Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:25 am

yh i ment fan