I have been looking around and I have found two types of radiators in aluminum. A 2 row that's 2 1/4 thick and a 4 row that's 2 1/4 thick. Anyone have experience with these aluminum radiators who can shed some light on this?

The 4 row must have smaller tube sizes then a 2 row if they are both the same thickness. With the 4 row you would have more surface area I think to cool down the radiator but, I would have thought that a 4 row would have been a bit thicker then the 2 row.

Anyone?

 

I don't have an aluminum radiator, so my comments are not based on experience with aluminum radiators per se. However, all radiators serve the same function......to cool the water. With a two row, whether it be aluminum or otherwise, the fins are further apart and fatter (thicker) so that a large amount of water gets cool air in a hurry. With the 3 and 4 rows, the fins are closer together, and allows the water to run through them at a slower rate. However the rate/amount of air going over the fins is less with the 3 and 4 row because they are closer together. That's why the 2 and 3 row are the same thickness. The 3-4 row is just more compact. Since the aluminum rads disperse of the heat so much better than the copper core rads, the two row is certainly adequate even for race cars.

 

If you buy an aluminum radiator, make sure the antifreeze you use is compatible with aluminum. You may think this is common sense but then you've probably never thought about it. If you get the wrong radiator fluid, at best you will ruin the radiator, at worst you will get electrolysis and cause the whole cooling system to corrode.

as for the rows, you get more flow out of a 4 row than a two row. Keep in mind that some 4 rows are not true 4 row but rather a 3 row with a tranny cooler built in. Find out if the radiator has tranny line fittings in it. If so, it's a 3 row with a tranny cooler.

 

I question that comment. Can you expound on that theory further?

 

if the 4 row and two row are the same thickness then the rows are probably more closely spaced. Take a look at a 2 row and the size of the fins. Compare that to a 3 or 4 row, the spaces between the fins decrease as you increase the number of rows. While the tubes in the 3 and 4 may be slightly smaller than the two row, in volume, they would allow for more water to pass through them (flow). Not necessairly 2x as much as a two row, but definitely more than 25%. In some cases the higher cored radiators also have larger ports on them. Again...higher flow.

 

So, are you saying that in some case's a 4 row could be the same thickness as a 2 row?

 

Fred, that theory sounds sound until you get into some research about cooling systems. Nick, I suggest you read this before deciding.
http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/14_...utomobiles.htm

 

Yes. Aftermarket companies may use standard specs for their radiators and then add rows for various levels of cooling performance. This is different from OEM where they had various thicknesses that in some cases required a new fan or fan clutch spacer as well. Check the spacing of the fins to be sure.

While the tubes may not be the same diameter as those in the two row, the fact there are twice as many rows will make up for that in cooling capacity. Smaller tubes won't detract from cooling capabilities but you could end up with the same flow potential depending on what the size difference there is between the tubes. (diameter of tubes will have an impact on the friction the water has to overcome and the velocity of the water flowing through them; smaller tubes = greater friction = lower velocity of water)

 

I rest my case.

 

Ey! I at least admit when my comments aren't 100% [>:] Just depends on the manufacturer of the radiator...