Time For A New Rad?

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Jan 6, 2013 | 11:49 AM

#16

Ian96XJ

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Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 739

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From: San Diego, CA

Year: 1996

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0 HO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesse Hallum

Same here in the prior ownership. We bought from a big-city type who never bothered to service the cooling system. Even though I changed the coolant and flushed the overflow bottle which was NASTY, the radiator died 6 months later due to chronic neglect.

Thankfully, the casting plugs are still in good shape, likely because well-meaning prior owners didn't put the "classic green stuff" inside. We ended up replacing the radiator with a new, copper 3-row unit from RadiatorBarn.com, OEM pump and thermostat, and Gates hoses all around.

Pat yourself on the back for the maintenance. Very few bother these days. I've glanced at engines at filling stations when owners pop the hood, and have been shocked at how badly they're neglected.

Y'know, I wrestled with the whole 2-row vs. 3-row thing. I finally decided that it wasn't going to matter THAT much in the long run. The 2-row has more surface area on the tubes to help dissipate the heat and upgrading to the electric fans should keep good quiet airflow over them, even over low speed. What was most important for me was getting away from plastic and going to metal tanks.

Jan 6, 2013 | 06:28 PM

#17