10 Year old Radiator

What is your opinion of this?

I recently heard on Motorwatch radio that a 10 year old radiator should
be replaced. I have 1 1997 Honda Civic with 140,000 miles. The coolant
was changed every 2 years with factory fill. I have also been using
wetter water for the past three years. I am not having any cooling
problems. Is it necessary to replace the radiator in this car?

Julien

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

Amen to that! You are just asking for trouble when you start changing
things that work as they are. Wait until it leaks. It'll give you plenty
of warning.

 

I would just keep in mind that, among at least early 1990s
Hondas, most are on their second radiator by now. My 91
Civic is. I am not sure that Honda radiator design changed
much by 1997.

Definitely replace any 10-year-old thermostat, though, and
ONLY with OEM. I am frugal and I am not kidding about paying
a few bucks more for OEM on this one.

 

Get every single hose too including those going to the heater core.
Might as well replace the water pump and thermostat too while you're
doing a cooling system overhaul.

 

Nomad, you're one of the reputable regulars around these
parts, so did you forget that the water pump is a bear to
get to, thus it's usually done during a timing belt job, and
so at the same interval?

All else you listed make sense (to me) for replacement for a
Honda 10-years-old. I'd just hold off on the water pump
until the next TB change.

 

Do not believe everything you hear on radio or TV.
I would go with as stated do not fix unless it is broke,
Just watch the coolant level and for rad seeps.
Where you have keep the coolant serviced good.
It could outlast the car
Good Luck
MT

 

Leave the damned thing alone unless it's leaking or the fins are falling
into dust.

Taken care of and protected from corrosion, these last almost forever. I
say "almost" because it is possible for the plastic tanks to crack if the
rad is abused.

It *would* be wise to replace the big rad hoses, as they're the ones that
do the catastrophic splits on you. Those should be changed every five or
six years as a matter of course.

AZ Nomad states the water pump may need changing. Has this been replaced at
every timing belt change? If so, you're fine and don't need to replace that
either.

The little heater hoses and the even tinier engine control coolant hoses
are not much of a problem. When they leak, it's usually a drip or
pee-stream. Lots of time to get them fixed. And don't overtighten the
clamps on the ends. That's usually what makes them leak in the first place.

 

Honda has some issues with the radiators in the 92 Acura Legend (and probably
whatever else shared that radiator) where the tanks would leak. I was told
this was a well-known problem.

 

(Mike Iglesias) wrote in

OK, so there's an exception to my assertions. But for 99% of the Hondas on
the road, what I said is true. And the OP's car isn't a '92 Legend.

 

yes, the plastic tanks tend to crack and leak after an extended period,
often about 10 years - but it's not a honda problem it's common across
most plastic tank types. but the benefits of plastic include ability to
use aluminum matrix, no solder, light weight, more economic materials,
etc. since most matrix cores tend to clog, get bashed and or/decay in
this time frame anyway, the benefits tend to outweigh the one disadvantage.

 

is wetter water like dry beer?

 

I bet the leaking radiators are due to not using Honda antifreeze.

 

I don't think so. Mine leaked ('94 Integra GS-R) and I always use
Honda antifreeze.

 

It is a heat transfer agent by Redline

 

Agreed, about 10 years you can replace it preventatively. Also change
out the hoses (including heater hoses and bypass hoses) and thermostat.
If you want to save some money and wait until it leaks, then keep a
good eye on it.

The top plastic tank can crack and you can start losing coolant from
the radiator with the reservoir still full. The hairline crack is hard
to see sometimes. Or the o-ring between the top tank and the aluminum
core hardens and starts to leak.

I've used Modine (now Proliance) from the local NAPA parts store or
Koyo. No problems with aftermarket here and the price is right. But
only OEM thermostat, coolant and distilled water if not prediluted. I
use Gates belts and hoses. Excellent stuff.

Proliance: www.pliii.com
Gates: www.gates.com

 

I think back to my 1976 Datsun PU truck that I kept 23 years and never
replaced the radiator.

Can't imagine why you would want to change it if it is doing OK.

My '90 accord failed approximately two year ago, and the failure was
not catastrophic. Developed a small crack in the upper tank and my
son drove it for another two months before I could get it home to
replace it.

Frank

 

My '93 Accord's first rad was replaced in 2000, and the second one was about
due for replacement when I parted with the car a few months ago. In both
cases, the issue was corrosion. Since I live in an area that sees winter
weather on a yearly basis (not once in a blue moon like some of the more
southerly sections of the U.S. have seen lately), I always thought it was
just winter elements that accelerated the corrosion.

 

+ 1 on don't touch it if it works fine. Any time I deviate from this
rulle, I later regret...

 

Could be, I'm in the south, don't have any corrosion issues. Mine
cracked in the top tank (plastic of some sort) I would suspect from
years of thermal cycling.

Frank