Looking for a new radiator? As an essential part of your cooling system, it’s important to choose a replacement that suits your car’s needs. Whether you’re aiming to simply replace or to upgrade, Natrad has a plethora of options to choose from. That’s why we’re putting together a comprehensive guide on different radiator types. Keep reading to find out the key components of a radiator. Natrad offers a wide range of radiator options, from simple replacements to industrial applications, custom designs, and high performance. Contact your nearest store today to find the right one for you.
First off, it’s a good idea to understand what a radiator does. The radiator is the heart of the cooling system and is relied upon to keep things functioning smoothly. It is a heat exchanger which uses ambient airflow to cool down hot engine coolant. The coolant passes through the radiator’s tubes and circulates around the rest of the cooling system. By cooling this liquid down, it ensures the engine does not overheat and that your car can function at an optimal level.
MaterialsA radiator consists of several different combinations of materials: the core and the tanks. The type of metal can indicate its application and approximate age. For example, copper/brass radiators were common before the 1970s but generally only appear in industrial or heavy-duty applications these days. The most common type of radiators for passenger vehicles are currently plastic/aluminium, meaning the core materials (fin and tube) are aluminium and the tanks are made of plastic. This is usually the stock standard combination and is likely to be found in most replacement radiators as well. Lastly, there are alloy or full aluminium radiators, which is generally used for high performance purposes. This could mean racing, modified vehicles, commercial vehicles and muscle cars just to name a few. Natrad can also produce custom configurations with alloy or copper brass which can be tailored to your exact needs.RowsMost copper/Brass radiators use a standard brass tube arranged in rows. Rows help dictate how much coolant can pass through the core, and therefore how much is in contact with the coolant. The more rows there are, the more tubes (and fin) in the core. This means there is more surface area contact between hot coolant and metal — which increases heat dissipation. Most modern vehicles with aluminium radiators have 1-2 rows, anything larger usually indicates a modified or high-performance application. Depending on space restrictions in your vehicle, a core with more rows may be suitable. Copper brass radiators, in particular, make use of more rows, whereas aluminium radiators tend to have fewer rows but more tubes and fins to increase cooling performance.
