All-Aluminum
radiators are fast becoming the new wave in radiator replacement. 100% Aluminum
construction has eliminated the problems associated with plastic tanks and
epoxy bonding to the radiator core. The auto industry has migrated from the old
standard copper/brass to create significantly lighter and more efficient
aluminum core cooling systems. Our All-Aluminum radiators take it one step
further. Solid hand welded construction, high-flow tubes, increased fin count
and overall higher efficiency ratings.
The
obvious advantage of an aluminum radiator versus a copper/brass version has a
lot to do with weight savings, but there are actual cooling benefits as well.
Even though traditional brass and copper materials are better conductors than
aluminum, the extra strength of the aluminum allows for larger tubes with more
surface area. Even an aluminum radiator with fewer tubes than its traditional
counterpart can potentially offer improved cooling, as the larger tubes make
more efficient use of available core space.
Aluminum
is much stronger, allowing the use of considerably wider tubes. Wider tubes
allow more direct contact between the fins and the tube, increasing the
radiator's capacity to dissipate heat away from the engine.
Most
aluminum radiators are manufactured with plastic tanks. To take it one step
further, some are manufactured with aluminum tanks. The advantage of the
aluminum tanks over plastic is the obvious added strength and the elimination
of the insulating epoxies between the core and tank as well as the added heat
dissipation properties of the aluminum tanks themselves.
In
conclusion, an all aluminum radiator will have an overall efficiency rating
20-30% higher than the traditional copper/brass version with the same core
thickness, regardless of the number of rows. Some of the increase in efficiency
is directly attributable to the use of aluminum tanks in place of the plastic
tanks in the majority of modern radiators. |