Performance Radiators: Choosing Aluminum Over Copper

The cooling system of your car maintains and regulates a stable temperature for engine operation, resulting in hassle-free driving. But, as you increase the horsepower using the bolt-on mods, the temperature of the engine system goes through the roof. The stock cooling systems experience difficulty in controlling high temperatures, which can lead to overheating and engine damage. This is why it is vital to upgrade stock car cooling parts after you add engine mods.

Let us talk about Performance Radiators and how to pick the right one for your car.

Generally, stock radiators come with a single row of tubes, while high-performance radiators contain four rows of tubes that run parallel to one another. Several cores increase the radiator surface area, thus improving its capacity to cool.

Why Is One Performance Radiator Better than Others?

The majority of Performance Radiators are made from aluminum, but what sets them apart from each other is their construction. Begin by inspecting the coolant tanks. Quality radiators utilize a high-quality weld that is determined by their C shaped pattern. It makes sure the weld does not crack down the road, spraying sticky and hot coolant all over the motor of your car.

Check if your radiator has connections for oil cooler lines or transmission. When it comes to the radiator core, inspect the fin tightness. If you see them loose, then they cannot transfer heat well. Aluminum end tanks can manage higher pressure before bursting as compared to their plastic counterparts. So, check what your coolant tanks are made of.

Aluminum Performance Radiators Are Ideal Cooling System Upgrades

If you have a classic car, more likely it has a bronze or copper radiator under its hood. Do not worry. You beloved vintage car has an added cooling ability of a performance radiator replacement made of aluminum. Most modern performance radiators are made of aluminum that help dissipates heat more efficiently than bronze or copper. It means that with aluminum radiators run cooler and are less likely to overheat.

Radiators are a beneficial upgrade for any car. You can find them in a wide range of shapes and sizes for either a custom installation or a drop-in fit. It is easy to install them, pour in the coolant and control the temperature of your engine. Moreover, an aluminum radiator can help you prevent a break down to happen.

Having said that, copper is considered a better heat conductor compared to aluminum. But, the radiators made of copper are not 100% copper. The fin and tubes are copper but are combined with a lead that comes with terrible heat transfer capacity. The channels are steel, and the end tanks are made of brass. The key to better cooling is shorter fin and wider tubes.

Conclusion

The radiator made of aluminum is 100% aluminum that has no insulating solder. This is the reason why aluminum radiators perform better than copper ones. So, unless you have a copper radiator that works the same way as the aluminum one, opt for the much better one.

Comments