What radiator?

red95r · Aug 29, 2011

I went to go do a routine flush of my rad and low and behold there is a red oily substance in the degas bottle. Looks like that ford red special coolant. On my lower hose there is a tiny leak where the coolant has congealed.. Anyway after flushing 4 times and installing a new water pump+thermo driving with the a/c on (highway speed or in town) puts me near the red line on the gauge. I have an oilcooler+auto. I cant really break the bank at this point in time. So are there any second best reliable radiators out there? Auto-zones rads?

miss2slocoupe · Aug 29, 2011

i had a 3 row in mine when i got my car and it was a PAIN in my ass. now not saying all 3 rows are like that but the one i got sucked, it got 4 holes in the 1st year i had it. i went to auto zone and got i 1 row about maybe 150 buck with a life time warrenty and i have gone all summer with no problems. and it stays just as cool

reivaxtorres · Aug 29, 2011

auto or manual? if manual (and youve had the recall done) you could always try looking online for a used 03/04 cobra radiator. all aluminum and keeps the car cooler, usually go for about $100-150. wont work with an auto tho.

if not, the autozone ones work fine, and the good thing is that like mentioned above, they come with the lifetime warranty.

Mystic SVT · Aug 29, 2011

I would go with one from Auto Zone, like miss2slocoupe said they have a lifetime warranty and look just like the ford pieces which leads me to believe they are of good quality. My friend got one for his 98 cobra and hasn't had any issues with it whatsoever.

red95r · Aug 29, 2011

Yep it's an auto. This Texas heat is killer. 104 today. I ride on the A and L of the gauge in the afternoon. This is good news about the autozone rad.

Does it make any difference on the rad if you have an oil cooler stock?

Thanks

Mystic SVT · Sep 1, 2011

red95r said:
Yep it's an auto. This Texas heat is killer. 104 today. I ride on the A and L of the gauge in the afternoon. This is good news about the autozone rad.

Does it make any difference on the rad if you have an oil cooler stock?

Thanks

Damn, mine runs in the "O"-"R" all day long with the ac going or not. As for difference in radiator, are you asking if the tranny cooler raises temps of the water? If so, not to the point where it will raise your temps much more then a 5 spd car.

ttocs · Sep 1, 2011

I moved from phoenix last almost 2 yrs ago. 104 was a nice day from may-sept and I too never had it above the "R" with ac on.

sn95jones · Sep 1, 2011

Mine will got to A or close to L if I've been dogging the hell out of it or staying in a gear at high rpms for a while but of course thats to be expected if I'm running it that hard. Plus its probably never had a flush in its life.. Might do one this weekend.

red95r · Sep 1, 2011

I will say that in my old 6r had a similar issue. After the radiator install it cooled so much better with the ac on, than with it off.

miss2slocoupe · Sep 1, 2011

dam yeah something is up with your car... mine will barely reach O if that in the morning and if it is in the middle of the day it will be in the middle or O and R all day..

ttocs · Sep 1, 2011

could try a cooler thermostat as well.

red95r · Sep 1, 2011

I'm going to have to take out all that coolant again. So I might as well go with a 180*. Doesn't that make the fan come on more often though(if idling)?

ttocs · Sep 1, 2011

unless its winter you fan will often be on while idling. I swapped mine and its been alot cooler. Only down side I was told was that the heater inside will take longer to get up to temp.

DropTopPony · Sep 16, 2011

Do you have an aftermarket trans cooler? If so you can use a manual radiator. The auto radiators have auto trans fluid cooling run into them thats why they are different. If you bypass that cooler for a big aftermarket then a 04 cobra would be great.

reivaxtorres · Sep 19, 2011

red95r said:
Yep it's an auto. This Texas heat is killer. 104 today. I ride on the A and L of the gauge in the afternoon. This is good news about the autozone rad.

Does it make any difference on the rad if you have an oil cooler stock?

Thanks

wont make a difference. 97-04 v8 radiators are the same, either auto or manual, they all have provisions for a trans cooler, with the exception of the 03/04 Cobra and Mach 1 (5 Speed only). if you are talking about engine oil cooler, it wont make a difference as that doesnt have anything to do with the radiator.

Also....yours is a 96, right? do you have the recall done on it yet? if not, you need a 1996 specific radiator. if you have the recall done, you can use any of the 97-04 v8 radiators.

1996GT · Oct 10, 2011

I was in a bind and needed a radiator fast and cheap! So I bought a 3 row off of epay for 70 bucks I believe and I havent had any issues so far. Bolted right up doesnt run hot but the again I dont run ac or heater. Not sure if that would be an issue though. BTW, I've had it for almost 2 years i figured for what i payed for it, 2 yrs is good..