In the current market, Automotive Radiators seem to be available from a number of alternative sources rather than the more traditional “radiator specialist”, on whom we have always relied.
The quality of some products now available in the market place is unquestionably inferior to the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) design and specification for which a replacement is sought, according to Mr Mick Flynn from ADRAD Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s biggest supplier groups.
ADRAD Pty Ltd is an Australian family owned business located in Adelaide, SA. The Adelaide facility encompasses a manufacturing and warehousing plant of approximately 1600m2. ADRAD branch warehouses are located in NSW, VIC, QLD & WA with a manufacturing facility in New Zealand. ADRAD employs almost 200 staff and has been involved in the design and manufacture of radiators for 20 years, branching into Air Conditioning with the ADAIR brand 4 years ago. ADRAD offers quality products and is an ISO9001:1994 accredited company. ADRAD Radiators meet and often exceed OEM specification.
Pointers on what to look for include:
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Specifications of materials used - materials of poor quality or thinner gauge are often used in inferior quality radiators to reduce cost. Cooling fins, for example, will not last as long if you live near the coast or visit the beach frequently, as the salty sea air will corrode thinner fins very quickly.
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Incorrect header plate material (where the radiator tank joins the core) or thickness – the header plate is a vital radiator component and if the incorrect material grade or gauge is used, the headers may split, resulting in a failed and unrepairable radiator. |
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Wrong tank size – this means that the header plate is also the incorrect size. This leads to problems with inter-changeability in the future. If a new tank needs to be fitted, one may not be available, so yet again you’ll need to purchase the entire radiator rather than simply replacing the damaged part.
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Wrong tank size - will the fan and shroud fit correctly to the replacement radiator? Are you left with gaps around the shroud, or holes that don’t line up? Poorer performance is almost guaranteed.
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Grade of plastic used in plastic tank radiators - does it meet or exceed OE specification? In order to reduce costs, recycled plastic has been used. This again compromises the units strength - fittings will break, cracking will occur and the products overall durability is significantly reduced.
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Incorrect material used in radiator core construction - again to reduce base cost of a radiator. But how well suited to the car and its cooling system is the change of core material? Metals do react!
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A smaller than original internal transmission cooler may result in the ultimate towing nightmare - your vehicles transmission runs hotter, increasing the likelihood of premature transmission failure.
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Warranty? What kind of warranty is available with the new unit? Read the small print. Who wears the cost of a blown transmission or a cooked engine
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ADRAD offers either a 2 or 5 year conditional warranty on its products depending on where you purchase.
Please also consider – “Do I need a new radiator”? Taking the damaged radiator to a “Radiator Specialist” may lead to discovering that perhaps a new tank need only be fitted, or a minor repair carried out as opposed to the necessity of purchasing a brand new radiator.
ADRAD Radiator Experts are an Australia Wide network of over 130 independently owned radiator specialists, located in both metropolitan and rural areas. The group offers a 3 year nationwide warranty on all ADRAD product.
To contact your nearest ADRAD Radiator Expert, call 1300 797 003.
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Visit ADRAD online 
