Thread: Radiator choices

Originally Posted by Junosi

OEM radiator from Britcars in Melbourne = $480.

OEM or Chinese copy?

I paid about the same for one which I'm sure is a copy - it has a label on top where "coolant" is spelled "coolent".

I'm not sure. I visitied Graeme at Britcars - he gave me two prices - $644 and $480 which I thought he said was for genuine or oem, but not really sure.

OEM = genuine

Not sure Graeme was using OEM in that way. He gave me another price on viscous fan unit and quoted me for LR genuine 309, OEM 228 and knockoff 168. Might have to give him a call and see what his $480 radiator is exactly. Still have to decide whether to go down the Desert Cooler route though

As far as I understand the parts structure its like this:

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) item is a part from the people/business who made the original and spare components for LandRover and is probably (but not definitley) 100% exactly the same as the LR item. Generally no guarantees or warranty support from LR although the OEM probably offers 'like' terms. Not that this is really a consideration for our well out of warranty vehicles!

Genuine is a genuine Landrover numbered item. Generally from the one and only OEM but sometimes consequent batches of spares can be sourced from a different company (say, if the original provider goes belly up). Full LR warrantee on both part and vehicle (again not that this bit is considerable with any of our 'oldish' P38's).

Knock off's could be made anywhere (generally China, but then again, what isn't these days?) and really a case of 'pot luck'. Unless someone like GRaeme (who has been around these things for years err, decades) has heard enough good reports to suggest having a go with it, I generally don't go there. In saying that, I have bought knock offs for my vehicles in the past but only for non-essential items & accessories like seat covers... probably wouldn't touch them for a cooling system going to north oz.

I'm no expert, but thats how its been explained to me in the past. Please let me know if I'm wrong or off the mark though!

As far as the value in the Aluminum unit, I would suggest the standard OEM item (probably from Graeme) would be more than good enough given your current standard one (and probably most of the rest of ours) has served for approx. 10-15 years. A new one will be a massive step up from that and should be good for around that period too, but without the wear and tear performance drops we are probably all suffering (just from them gunking up).

If you want peace of mind, I have a mate who has 15-20 years in the radiator/cooling industry with extensive knowledge and would be happy to ask him if you want to have a chat for advice or direction... he may even know the best value equation for your needs. PM me if you want and I'll give him a bell with your number.

Hoo-Roo, Dave and the 'pretty pig'

OEM / LR will be fine...

Worked for the last 10 years

Only need a full custom if your going to change the operating parameters of the vehicle. Eg, 400bhp engine etc.. If its just a mildly tweaked stocker, go original.

Have the block power flushed, new coolant, thermostat, new hoses etc... I personally would shove a new Waterpump and Viscous fan hub whilst I was at it....
Then it should be good for another 10 years..

Originally Posted by Tombie2

Have the block power flushed, new coolant, thermostat, new hoses etc... I personally would shove a new Waterpump and Viscous fan hub whilst I was at it....

Hadn't thought about flushing the block, might be a good idea. I'm replacing all other components at the same time - viscous, pump, hoses, thermostat and rad.

Originally Posted by Junosi

Hadn't thought about flushing the block, might be a good idea.

If you saw the state of my rad when opened you will see the need to flush the system / Block at regular intervals, the crap comes from the block so I will be flushing mine at least every 2 years with a coolant change.
Since my new rad has been fitted the Temp gauge sits just into the normal section when the car is moving, in heavy traffic it moves up a little. This is in the very hot weather in Perth in the recent months. Before the gauge was always at the mid point so the car is running much cooler now.