Hi Scotty and everyone,
I was wondering if I should invest in one of those all metal radiators like this one for my Lexus 08 GS350 AWD:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394905420571
I need something that will last but the price is something else. Do they last a long time and won't crack like the plastic ones, will it be a wise choice?
Please tell me your advice,
Mike
I poured in that "Bar's Leaks" product you recommended in a previous video a while back and it completely stopped the leadking.
That's a temporary band-aid. Continued use can result in a plugged up heater core or cooling system.
I need something that will last.
"Stop-leak" products won't.
I really don't want to spend near $200.00 for an all metal radiator, that is way too much money but I need something that will not break like the plastic ones.
Assuming it's original, the OEM type radiator with plastic tanks lasted 15-16 years. How much longer would you need a replacement to last?
Rockauto.com shows a Denso radiator for your car at about $109. (There are cheaper ones but you're better off sticking with leading brands.) Chances are it would last the remaining life of that vehicle.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/lexus,2008,gs350,3.5l+v6,1441479,cooling+system,radiator,2172
As far as the all-metal aluminum radiators, I installed a "Champion" brand unit in one of my older vehicles a couple of years ago and it's been fine. Construction is quite solid and I see no reason why it wouldn't last a long time as long as coolant is changed regularly. In my case however it was either spend about $200 on that or $500+ on a custom original style radiator which for that car was brass & copper construction. (I didn't want to try Frankenstein-fitting a more modern $100 radiator.)
Thank you for pricinging RockAuto, I was looking for that site and couldn't find it in my bookmarks!
"How much longer would you need a replacement to last?" Forever!
The all aluminium radiator will be $75.13 more than the Denso so, I've got a lot to think about. 15-16 years with the Denso or last until or past Armageddon with the all aluminum type. lol
Thank you, I appreciate the both of you!
Personally I wouldn't waste my money. My wife's 23-year-old Lexus still has the original plastic radiator and it still works fine
Mine started to leak on the top and the bottom so, I poured in that "Bar's Leaks" product you recommended in a previous video a while back and it completely stopped the leadking. I know from what you said that I will use more "Bar's Leaks" when I want to replace the coolant. Here in Brooklyn, NY it gets brutally cold, especially since we are close to the water and we have a lot of bumpy roads, way over what the law allows so, I need something that will last. I really don't want to spend near $200.00 for an all metal radiator, that is way too much money but I need something that will not break like the plastic ones. I plan to keep it a very long time, it has over 150,000 miles.