47ka Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Hey guys, 1990 Legacy Wagon, automatic, blew its radiator some months back (as in there is a hole in the side now). I'm looking into ordering a new one and hoping that the old one was clogged and a head gasket hasn't given up the ghost after 214K. I was thinking of getting an OEM but they are close to 300. Is there an aftermarket brand that would match the reliability of the OEM but isn't as expensive? For reference: https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/oe_parts_cat.html Thanks for any advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bdubs Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Any auto parts store will sell you an aftermarket radiator for half that price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 X2 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47ka Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 True; I've seen a few radiators for like 100 dollars, but I'm just wondering if the quality will be the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 True; I've seen a few radiators for like 100 dollars, but I'm just wondering if the quality will be the same. The car has 214k miles, even a crappy aftermarket one is going to outlive the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47ka Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 The car has 214k miles, even a crappy aftermarket one is going to outlive the car. Thanks for your input, but I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnifeyMcShanker Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Well, he's right... I'd get a cheapo one from an auto parts store, no real reason to dump an extra $200 on an OEM one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47ka Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 I know he's right; the car's been in the family for about 20 years so there is some sentimentality attached. But if radiator quality is relatively even then I'll just pick one up from Advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47ka Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 Thanks for the advice all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum_Racing Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 A junkyard will sell you one (Minus the fans) for $50. That's what I paid for a junkyard radiator anyway. Just clean it out with a garden hose before installing it in your car. Don't clean out the tranny cooler side of the radiator with the hose though, you don't want water mixed in with your tranny fluid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonklein611 Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 My local parts store couldn't get the cheapo in, so they gave me the "OEM" quality one for the cheapo price. :-D SCORE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47ka Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 A junkyard will sell you one (Minus the fans) for $50. That's what I paid for a junkyard radiator anyway. Just clean it out with a garden hose before installing it in your car. Don't clean out the tranny cooler side of the radiator with the hose though, you don't want water mixed in with your tranny fluid. Wait, does this mean that I'm going to have to replace transmission fluid with my radiator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonklein611 Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Wait, does this mean that I'm going to have to replace transmission fluid with my radiator? A small amount, the radiator = tranny cooler. (it's in the one main tube) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47ka Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 A small amount, the radiator = tranny cooler. (it's in the one main tube) So what you're basically saying is that after all the hoses are reconnected, the most I should have to do is top off the transmission fluid, barring me catastrophically messing something up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum_Racing Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Yup. Just make sure you TORQUE those hose clamps down REALLY TIGHT or they'll pop off under the pressure and you'll lose a lot more fluid... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47ka Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 Will do. I'm wondering if I should just replace the hoses while I'm at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eekay Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Will do. I'm wondering if I should just replace the hoses while I'm at it. Absolutely. They're fairly cheap and if the radiator is already out... *shrugs* My 9.3 cups EJ22 makes me feel like my **** is 2.8 decimeters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47ka Posted July 4, 2009 Author Share Posted July 4, 2009 Fixed it with a radiator bought at Advance (well, technically exchanged as the first radiator recommended to me by the Advance guys turned out to be too large, while the one I was going to buy originally was the correct one). We had to cut one of the transmission lines off of the old radiator as it had melted on, but otherwise it went OK. We sort of had to cram the coolant tank back in as the transmission fluid inlet and outlet were higher than on the OEM; perhaps buying an OEM replacement would have avoided this problem but who knows. We also replaced the hoses but did not replace the thermostat as the Advance guy recommended. It seems to be working however so I think that we might be OK. The car is running and in fact running cooler than I remember. Unfortunately, I think that the overheating took a toll and it is not as sprightly as it was, although this may be the a psychological impression resulting from driving the other two cars for an extended period of time. Everything else seems to be working though. And in an example of how karma plays out DURING my life, the day after we fixed the car, the garage door spring broke. So the money we saved fixing the car ourselves went into fixing the garage door (and then some). I can't wait to see what happens when I actually start practicing medicine; hopefully I'll be a great doctor and have a shitty home life rather than half my patients dying and the other half miraculously recovering. Thanks for your advice everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum_Racing Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Glad to hear all worked out well. If you do decide to do the thermostat anytime soon, they take about 10 minutes and cost about $10. A gasket is $3. If the thermostat housing is warped due to heat, that's probably about $15, but generally they don't become a problem. There is a flatness callout (Machining term for "That thing needs to be F%@G flat) on the housing, but generally a FLAT surface (A granite surface plate would be best, but most people don't have those in their back pocket) and a piece of 100 grit sandpaper would work. Just lay the sandpaper on the surface and rub the flat part of the housing on it. After a minute or two, move to 200 grit sandpaper, clean with soap and water, rinse, and install. Presto... Good as new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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