Another Radiator Question

[Sensfan-ClassB]

The recent discussion on searching for replacement radiators leads me to ask for member advice on any proactive practices, aside from regular fluid changes, that may help extend the radiator life on my 2012 190/Ranger.
FYI, this vehicle was a Kitchener factory prototype, a Ranger cabin placed a 2011 190 Chevy Express chassis.

 

[booster]

The recent discussion on searching for replacement radiators leads me to ask for member advice on any proactive practices, aside from regular fluid changes, that may help extend the radiator life on my 2012 190/Ranger.
FYI, this vehicle was a Kitchener factory prototype, a Ranger cabin placed a 2011 190 Chevy Express chassis.

Your on a 2011 chassis so wouldn't have the overheating issues that the pre 6 speed transmissions have, and that we have been trying to address over the years in many ways. I have read, on the pickup truck forums, that the 6 speeds appear to intentionally run at higher temps and that would also likely mean the transmission is designed to run at over 200* per the numbers they gave. The radiator is the same as the older 4 speeds.

Many will disagree with this, but even though Dexcool has gotten less harmful over the years, IMO, it is still not a very good product. When it wears out, or even if the level gets low enough for air to be in the system it can cause corrosion and sludging. It was much worse in the past and my Buick engine had the remnants of it when I got it in 2013. It had a dealer cleanout, new radiator, new heater core the factory recommended dealer acid flush, but when I pulled the knock sensors to drain the block nothing can out as it has an inch of remaining rusty looking goo in the block plugging it. The hadn't changed the water pump and when it failed a couple years later and I changed it there as the thickest ugly rust on the impeller I have ever seen in an engine. I had the knock sensors out as I was changing it to G05 antifreeze and was glad I did. The van was changed to G05 as soon as the warranty was over. The Honda has Honda antifreeze. When I removed the water pump on the Buick in 2020 to build a new engine for it , the impeller as clean bare steel so huge difference. If you keep the Dexcool, change it more often, never let level get low, check the radiator cap every year to make sure it is holding pressure and you probably will not have an issue. I change our G05 every 3 years at the 3 year cycle maintance I do but only do the radiator as it comes out looking new every time, no need to pull the block drain.

No matter what you do, I think many of the aluminum/plastic radiators will start to leak eventually some earlier some later. That is why I got a spare for our van when they appeared to be going unavailable.

 

[youngnretired]

I'd like to throw in the idea that your original radiator is 15 years old (unknown miles), and likely less than 100% efficient with bugs, seeds, rocks and other debris that may have lodged into the fins. Simply replacing it with a 1 for 1 exact replacement provides some piece of mind for a proactive and preventive maintenance item, even if you don't opt for an increased cooling capacity unit. Plus, doing so provides a new transmission and oil cooler, and transmission coolers can become plugged up with small debris and create increased line pressures possibly leading to shorter transmission life.

 

[Sensfan-ClassB]

Thankyou Booster and Youngretired.

 

[booster]

I'd like to throw in the idea that your original radiator is 15 years old (unknown miles), and likely less than 100% efficient with bugs, seeds, rocks and other debris that may have lodged into the fins. Simply replacing it with a 1 for 1 exact replacement provides some piece of mind for a proactive and preventive maintenance item, even if you don't opt for an increased cooling capacity unit. Plus, doing so provides a new transmission and oil cooler, and transmission coolers can become plugged up with small debris and create increased line pressures possibly leading to shorter transmission life.

Forgot to come back and hit send when some other things came up, that was hours ago.

If it is the original, I would totally agree. Sometimes tough to replace stuff that is still working as it can seem like wasting money, though, to many folks.

 

[youngnretired]

FWIW, our 2009 GMC 2500 with 55k miles on it is scheduled for new radiator and external transmission cooler replacements as pre-emptive service work this summer. It's not showing any signs of issues, but I want things to last as long as they can with reasonable and easy repairs.

 

[Sensfan-ClassB]

I have also decided to have our radiator and external transmission cooler replaced.
Is it possible to upgrade the external transmission cooler?

 

[youngnretired]

You certainly can. You can see boosters post on transmission and oil cooler upgrades. You can purchase these fin and plate type coolers in many different sizes. Note that he also installed cooling fans to help cool things, something that I didn't want to do as part of our upgrades just to keep the electrical load minimized. Without fans you need larger coolers to have the same effective cooling.

Oil and tranny coolers, particularly Chevy

 

[booster]

You certainly can. You can see boosters post on transmission and oil cooler upgrades. You can purchase these fin and plate type coolers in many different sizes. Note that he also installed cooling fans to help cool things, something that I didn't want to do as part of our upgrades just to keep the electrical load minimized. Without fans you need larger coolers to have the same effective cooling.

Oil and tranny coolers, particularly Chevy

And I will add to this that the two big high end coolers that we have were initially intended for one to do the engine oil cooling (the smaller one) and trans cooling without being connected to the radiator cooling to leave more capacity for engine cooling.

The failed to work well for the trans, so I put both coolers on the trans cooling and engine oil cooling back in the radiator. That also was not enough to cool the trans by themselves. I did not try both of the coolers and the radiator, as I figured out that the trans reprogramming and that took care of the problem for us.