I don’t know much about radiators or coolant I have read thru the forums and it looks like ome is the best route. I prefer not to have any plastic on it and came across this brand. Has anyone tried this brand radiator? My stock radiator has started to leak a smidge. Be cool claims to lower the temperature about 20 degrees, would that lead to other issues down the road?
Be Cool Radiator
- Thread starter clinet1215
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MountaineerTom
LJ Enthusiast, Retired USAF Weapons Loader
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Aluminum radiators don’t seem to have a good reputation in the TJ’s. There are some that said they’ve had no problems but there seems to be more that have. I have no first hand experience with them myself.
If I couldn't find an OEM radiator I think I’d go with a Denso. I just put one in my ‘99 Silverado and the quality looked good to me. Time will tell I guess.
If I couldn't find an OEM radiator I think I’d go with a Denso. I just put one in my ‘99 Silverado and the quality looked good to me. Time will tell I guess.
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First a big welcome to WTF! 
My opinion is their claim it will lower the temperature 20 degrees is pure advertising hype/malarky. The engine has a normal operating temperature of at or close to 210 degrees it was designed to run at. If it actually lowered the temperature from 210 to 190 that wouldn't be a good thing where the engine computer (programmed for around 210 degrees) and efficiency is concerned.
Yes OEM is best but they're getting very expensive and even harder to find. Don't be worried about the plastic top and bottom tanks, pretty much all radiators have them. Even all my wife's Lexus cars had that type of radiator and so do my daily driver cars and they've never had a single problem.
Plastic tank leaks can happen of course but they're not common with the OEM radiator. My '04 still has the OEM tank and it has been trouble-free.
But if you need a new radiator you need a new radiator. For the $$$ it's real hard to beat the quality and reality of a Denso radiator. It has excellent quality, an all aluminum core like the Mopar has, and has a good reputation. It doesn't cool quite as well as the Mopar but that's only an issue in very hot desert-type conditions.
Bottom line is I'd avoid cheap store brand radiators, they just don't hold up. And also know that those that brag about having more rows in the core, like 3 or 4, don't cool any better than the Mopar which is a superior 1 row design. And all aluminum radiators sound cool but those that aren't very expensive are usually shoddily constructed and the would leak if their manufacturer hadn't poured in a liquid epoxy to seal the leaks. The problem with that epoxy lining is it doesn't conduct heat worth a crap which negates the aluminum's normally high thermal conductivity.
So bottom line is I'd avoid any cheap radiator, even if it has a so-called "lifetime" warranty. Cheap store brand critical parts like radiators, water pumps, etc. with lifetime warranties normally mean a lifetime of problems. Sure they'll give you a replacement when it fails but warranties don't get you home when the warrantied critical part fails.
Stick with a Denso if you can't find or can't afford the Mopar. At least in my personal opinion.
My opinion is their claim it will lower the temperature 20 degrees is pure advertising hype/malarky. The engine has a normal operating temperature of at or close to 210 degrees it was designed to run at. If it actually lowered the temperature from 210 to 190 that wouldn't be a good thing where the engine computer (programmed for around 210 degrees) and efficiency is concerned.
Yes OEM is best but they're getting very expensive and even harder to find. Don't be worried about the plastic top and bottom tanks, pretty much all radiators have them. Even all my wife's Lexus cars had that type of radiator and so do my daily driver cars and they've never had a single problem.
Plastic tank leaks can happen of course but they're not common with the OEM radiator. My '04 still has the OEM tank and it has been trouble-free.
But if you need a new radiator you need a new radiator. For the $$$ it's real hard to beat the quality and reality of a Denso radiator. It has excellent quality, an all aluminum core like the Mopar has, and has a good reputation. It doesn't cool quite as well as the Mopar but that's only an issue in very hot desert-type conditions.
Bottom line is I'd avoid cheap store brand radiators, they just don't hold up. And also know that those that brag about having more rows in the core, like 3 or 4, don't cool any better than the Mopar which is a superior 1 row design. And all aluminum radiators sound cool but those that aren't very expensive are usually shoddily constructed and the would leak if their manufacturer hadn't poured in a liquid epoxy to seal the leaks. The problem with that epoxy lining is it doesn't conduct heat worth a crap which negates the aluminum's normally high thermal conductivity.
So bottom line is I'd avoid any cheap radiator, even if it has a so-called "lifetime" warranty. Cheap store brand critical parts like radiators, water pumps, etc. with lifetime warranties normally mean a lifetime of problems. Sure they'll give you a replacement when it fails but warranties don't get you home when the warrantied critical part fails.
Stick with a Denso if you can't find or can't afford the Mopar. At least in my personal opinion.
What you have to remember is our tjs were designed to run at a certain temp so running 20 degrees cooler really doesn't help IMO.
I had my OEM radiator top tank replaced. I also bought a replacement from 1800radiator.
The OEM is back in the Jeep now. The local shop that did the top tank has done work for me for years with no problems.
Hopefully that will still be true on the one they just did for me.
Been running a Denso rad since the beginning of June, no issues to report and Tessie's temps are rock solid.
I appreciate y’all’s help. I found a mopar. Good lord these things are expensive
How many miles did your current Mopar radiator last? That is the only important question.
118,000. Hopefully the new one will last as long
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