From the early years of the automotive industry up until today, various materials have been used to construct radiators. With advancement in technology, radiators have undergone various stages of development and improvement. It is to ensure maximum cooling effect, while preserving the integrity of both the device and car.

What is a car radiator?

It is an important component in your vehicle’s cooling system. Leaks and blockages in the radiator can cause the car to overheat, which can lead to serious damage and expensive repairs of the cooling system. Radiators are cross flow or down flow, depending on where the tank is located. Cross flow radiator tanks are positioned on the side of the core, while the down flow units are on the top and bottom of the core.

What are the different types of radiators? This information is courtesy of Taros Trade BG LTD

Copper-Brass

These devices had brass tanks inside and a copper core.  They were standard issue in all automobiles up until 1980. Modern advances in technology have made these kinds of radiators nearly 50% lighter than the traditional makes. There is also less air pressure in these radiators (about 30%) because the parts in copper-brass brands are much smaller – it reduces the possibility of pipes inside the radiator blowing out due to pressure. But the problem is these radiators are very expensive and get rusted over time.

Aluminum with mechanically assembled core

The cheaper option with the least thermal conductivity. The tubes are assembled by hand and don’t have a solid connection to the cooling core.

Aluminum with brazed core

This type of radiator has the best type of conductivity. The tubes are welded to the core and have a solid connection. This type of radiator is more expensive because it’s manufacturing requires very expensive production lines and professionally trained staff. It can come with plastic or aluminum tanks.

Moreover, aluminum has high thermal conductivity, meaning it conducts heat very well, thus absorbing it faster. This action allows hot coolant passing aluminum tubes to be cooled instantly, which is beneficial when it returns for another cycle to cool the car engine.

Conclusion

Some radiator manufactures have made it very difficult to understand what exactly they have in the package. But not all radiators are the same. You should pay attention to all the details described in this guide and not go for the cheapest – or the most expensive – before understanding what exactly you are being sold.